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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

NAPPIE, adj., n. Also nappy, and in II. in the reduced form nap.

I. adj. 1. Of ale or liquor: foaming, brisk, strong, rich, heady (Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 137; Bnff. 1856 J. Collie Poems 68). Also applied by metonymy to the container. Now only dial. in Eng. Chiefly liter.Sc. c.1700 J. Maidment Sc. Pasquils (1868) 409:
A bottle that is both whyte and nappie.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 226:
Then wad he gar his Butler bring bedeen The nappy Bottle ben, and Glasses clean.Slk. 1807 Hogg Poems (1874) 96:
You wha bouze the wine sae nappy.Gsw. a.1833 Sc. Songs (Whitelaw 1844) 242:
Whisky, nappy yill or wine.Ags. 1892 Brechin Advertiser (5 Jan.) 3:
The Ale is ripe an' nappie.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Bog-Myrtle II. vi.:
Gin the brew be nappy and the company guid.

2. Of persons: slightly intoxicated, exhilarated by drink; of a place: bright, cheerful. Mainly n.dial. in Eng. from early 18th c.Sc. 1776 D. Herd Sc. Songs II. 191:
And when that the carles grew nappy, They danc'd as weel as they dow'd.Mry. 1810 J. Cock Homespun Lays 119:
A ha'f a score, I wat, an' mair, To get themsel's fu' nappy.Fif. 1894 J. Menzies Our Town 268:
Me workin' my very heart out to hae things nice and nappy, and him there sittin' like a big log o' wud.

II. n. Strong ale, liquor (w.Sc. 1825 Jam.). Mainly dial. in Eng. from the mid-18th c.Ayr. 1786 Burns Twa Dogs 131:
The nappy reeks wi' mantling ream.Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 24:
Nor did we drink o' gilpin water. But reemin nap wi' houp weel heartit.m.Lth. 1811 H. MacNeill Bygane Times 31:
[I] ne'er spared My whisky punch and good brown nappy.Kcb. 1815 J. Gerrond Poems 70:
The lang looked for nap and servit White upon the head is seen.Ags. 1907 D. Tasker Readings 79:
Gudewife, bring the greybeard and “nappy”, An' rax doon the kebbuck an' cake.