Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†JIMP, n.2 Also gimp; dims. jimpie, -ey, jumpie, jampy, and deriv. jumpables (Bwk. 1825 Jam.).
1. Gen. in pl. A bodice with a front opening, worn by nursing mothers (Sc. 1808 Jam., jimps). Also used fig. and attrib.
2. A woman's bodice, “a sort of spencer, with a short tail, or skirt” (Lth. 1825 Jam., jumpie; Abd. 1920, jimp(ie)). Also attrib.Abd. c.1700 New Bk. Old Ballads (Maidment 1885) 11:
With pity coat and mantay coat, And jampy coat like lilly.Abd. 1758 in G. Turreff Antiq. Gleanings (1871) 262:
She teaches . . . working fringes, tassels, jump-straps, watch and cane strings.Ayr. 1787 Burns My Lord a-hunting Chorus:
But Jenny's jimps and jirkinet, My Lord thinks meikle mair upon't.Sc. 1806 R. Jamieson Ballads I. 310:
We hae wealth o' yarn in clues, To mak me a coat and a jimpey.Per. a.1869 C. Spence Poems (1898) 90:
All the sea and river imps With shelly coats and scaly jimps.
