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.
Quotation dates: 1700-1725, 1776-1833, 1892-1907
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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.
