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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PLYPE, n., v., adv. Also plipe. Freq. form plyper.

I. n. 1. A sudden dash of water or the like, the noise made by this (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 131; ne.Sc., Ags. 1966); a sudden heavy shower of rain, a Plump (Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Abd. 1966); a fall into water, the noise so made (Ags. 1825 Jam.; Abd. 1966), a soaking, splash.Bwk. 1875 W. Brockie Leaderside Leg. 25:
Mony a plype it gat.s.Sc. 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws xiv.:
There was a plype o' rain falling at the time.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick xiv.:
Cheese an' breed washen doon wi plipes o' caal watter.

2. The act of dabbling or messing around in a liquid, a Plowter (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 131).

3. A wet, marshy place, a bog, morass.Abd. 1932 R. L. Cassie Sc. Sangs 31:
Plouterie plype, cloiterie clype, Reeskie moss an' pick-black strype.

II. v. 1. intr. To drop suddenly into a liquid, plunge or splash in(to) mud or water (Ags. 1825 Jam.; ne.Sc., Ags. 1966). Vbl.n. plypan, a sudden plunge into water or the like, a plop (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 131).Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb vi.:
Plype doon fan the jaw's comin'.

2. To dabble or work messily and carelessly in a liquid or some wet material (Bnff., Abd. 1825 Jam.; ne.Sc., Ags. 1966), freq. with at (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 131). Freq. form plyp(p)er, id. (Gregor s.v. plapper; Abd. 1930). Vbl.n. plypan, -in, a continuous splashing sound (Bnff. 1880 Jam.).Abd.¹⁴ c.1915:
I saw him this mornin', he wis fair plyperin' amo' his hey.Abd. 1954 Buchan Observer (16 Nov.):
Plipin an' plowterin i' that tub.

3. To walk on wet or muddy ground, to squelch along (ne.Sc., Ags. 1966).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 131:
She geed plypin' through the closs wee a pail in ilky han'.

4. To hiccup noiselessly (Ayr. 1966).

III. adv. Suddenly, with a splash, plop! (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 131; Bnff., Abd. 1880 Jam.).