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.
Quotation dates: 1892-1956
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SIRP, n., v. [sɪrp]
I. n. A wet, soggy or soaking condition (Ork. 1929 Marw., a sirp o' weet, a' in a sirp). Derivs. sirpa, a wet soppy mass, a mass of over-wet dough or the like (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); I.Sc. 1970), also attrib. as in sirpa-brøni, -sooens (Jak.). See Brunie, Sowans; sirpis, a soppy state (Ork. 1929 Marw.).Sh. 1892 Manson's Sh. Almanac:
Da büddie wi da sea bannocks wis a' weet, an da bread wis in a sirpa.Ork. 1912 Old-Lore Misc. V. ii. 55:
When the straw bedding of young calves was all wet or "jirpan wi' weet" it was said to be "a' i a sirpis."
II. v. To soak with water, to wet, esp. to wet dough overmuch in baking (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928)). Ppl.adj. sirpan (Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh., Ork. 1970), sirpet (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)), soaking, saturated, sodden, of badly made food.Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 104:
Wae wir aa' sirpan weet.
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"Sirp n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/sirp>
