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.
SNIPE, n.2, v.2 Also snype.
I. n. 1. A smart blow, a fillip (Bnff., Abd., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1971).Abd. 1739 Caled. Mag. (1788) 499:
T' come o'er him wi' a snype, Levell'd his nose maist wi' his chin.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick vi.:
An antrin snipe ower 'e fingers.
2. A setback, a loss by being cheated, a disappointment, let-down, fraud, cheat (Bnff., Abd. 1880 Jam.; Bnff., Abd. 1971). Phr. to get a snype, to be cheated, to get the worst side of a bargain. Cf. Eng. snip, a swindle or cheat.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 174:
He got a gey sair snype wee's breethir fin he brook.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 193:
Tho' they get a bit snype or twa, it's gweed for them.
3. A rebuff, a gibe, a sarcasm (Lth. 1808 Jam.). Phr. tae tak snype, to take offence, to feel offended or insulted (Ork. 1929 Marw.).
4. A tailor. Cf. Eng. slang snip, id.m.Lth. 1812 P. Forbes Poems 163:
The taylor had an awkward beast, It threw poor snipe five ell at least.
II. v. 1. To strike smartly, to fillip (Bnff., Abd., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1971).
2. To cheat, to defraud, to bring loss upon (Abd. 1880 Jam.; Bnff., Abd. 1971). Cf. Eng. slang snip, id. Hence sniper, a disappointment (Abd. 1971).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 174:
He snypet 'im wee the sellan o's corn.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 46:
There's een . . . 'at wis snypit o' an aul' fairmer mannie up throu'.
3. To reprimand, to snub (Abd. 1825 Jam., Abd. 1971). Also in Eng. dial. in forms snip(e).
[Appar. an emphatic altered form of Snip, which coincides in several meanings. There may also have been some influence from Snipe, n.1]
