Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1820-1992
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]
SAPPLE, v., n. Also saple. [sɑpl]
I. v. 1. To soak, saturate with water, rain, etc. (Uls. 1878 Patterson Gl., 1931 Northern Whig (16 Dec.) 9; Slg., Ayr., Wgt. 1969); specif. to steep (clothes) in soapy water (Sc. 1887 Jam., Add.; wm.Sc., Kcb. 1969). Ppl.adj. sap(p)lin, soaking, sodden (Uls. 1924 Northern Whig (Jan.)). Used intr. for refl. in 1850 quot.Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan I. ix.:
His Sunday finery will have got a sappling!Rnf. 1850 R. Stewart Musings 60:
She had nae other wish, but in whiskey to sapple.Uls. 1892 Ballymena Observer:
Sapple the fadge in the gravy.Kcb. 1897 A. J. Armstrong Robbie Rankine 18:
His claes were gey weel sappled wi' the wat grass.
II. n. Reg. in pl.: soap-suds, lather for washing (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Per., Slg., Fif., wm.Sc., Gall. 1969). Freq. in comb. saip(ie) sapples, see Saip. Also (in sing.) a rinse, a quick wash (Ags., Ayr. 2000s). Also transf. = froth, spume.Ayr. 1820 Galt Legatees x.:
Rubbin the clothes to juggons between their hands, above the sapples.Rnf. 1880 J. Nicholson Poems 87:
Sapples o' the sea-bree Stickin' in her hair.Gsw. 1884 H. Johnston Martha Spreull 98:
A byne o' sapples that my mither had been scoorin' blankets in.Arg. 1896 N. Munro Lost Pibroch (1935) 115:
With her coats kilted and the soap sapple hardly a thought whiter than her knees.Sc. 1931 Scots Mag. (Sept.) 425:
She straightened as she saw him, and rubbed the sapples off her hands and arms.Ags. 1953 Kirriemuir Free Press (3 Sept.):
On washin'-days 'twas reamin' ower Wi' rowth o' sapples. Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 60:
sapple To rinse or wash out. As a noun it can mean an instance of this: 'I'll just give the teapot a wee sapple,' or a soapy lather. Arg. 1992:
Ye've got a good sapple gan there. Uls. 1992:
I've got such a good sapple here I'll just wash another jersey.
