Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1866, 1925
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GNIP, v., n. Cf. Gnap.
I. v. 1. To eat, nibble (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.).
2. Fig. (1) To make taunting insinuations, to carp, “nark”.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 67:
Faht are ye eye gnip gnippin' at? Canna ye fussil fair oot, an' lat's ken faht ye wud be at?Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 68:
A widna like 'im for a maister: he's a gnippin' bodie.
(2) To speak in a mincing or affected way. Cf. Gnap, v., 2. (2).Mry. 1925 Scotsman (29 May) 7:
He's come back and he can gnip.
II. n. “A morsel of any eatable” (Gregor) Also dim. gnipick(ie) and intensive gnipper (Ib.). For phrs. with gnipper, see Gnapper.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 67:
He ate ilky gnipper o't.
