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.
KIP, v.3, n.2
I. v. To play truant from school (Lth. 1808 Jam.; Bnff.12 1850; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; em.Sc.(a), m.Lth., Rxb. 1960). Vbl.n. kippin.Edb. 1821 D. Haggart Life 3:
I do not recollect that I ever lost my place for want of my lessons, but I was sometimes turned down for kipping.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie vii.:
Thy grannie's paiks, the maister's whippin', Can never mend thy gait o' kippin. . . . The lang hungry kippins, the bawbees aye short.Sc. 1894 Stevenson Letters (1924) V. 150:
A boy who was a very good boy, and went to Sunday Schule, and one day kipped from it.
II. n. A truant, in phr.: to play (the) kip, to play truant (Ags., Edb. 1910; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Ayr.4 1928; Slg., Fif., Edb. 1960).Edb. 1890 Mod. Sc. Poets (Edwards) XIII. 149:
Jenny or Joe had been skulkin' Their lessons, or playing the “kip.”wm.Sc. 1903 S. Macplowter Mrs McCraw 30:
Ye've been playin' the kip, hae ye? A'll kipper ye whan A gets ye hame.Lth. 1925 C. P. Slater Marget Pow 110:
But the ither two gentlemen had played the kip; they were gey nervish-like.
