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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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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.

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.