Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
¶SERPLINS, n. pl. “The soapy water in which clothes have been boiled” (Lnk. 1825 Jam.).
[A corruption of sap(p)lins, see Sapple, v., due to conflation with Sirple.]