Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
THREEPLE, adj., n., v. Also threple, thripple. [θripl]
I. adj. Triple, three-fold, in three parts, three times over (Abd. 1825 Jam.; ne.Sc., Ags. 1972). Comb. threeple-thrawcruik, a rope-twister with three hooks for twisting three strands at once (Abd. 1972).Lth. 1853 M. Oliphant Harry Muir xxxii.:
The land's to bear threple crops when the laird's new manager comes.Abd. 1924 Scots Mag. (Sept.) 442:
Not only the double, but even the “threeple” negative must occasionally be observed.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 4:
There tooered the threeple Eeldons.Abd. 1974 Buchan Observer (8 Oct.) 10:
You could make a pair of ploo reins, using a thripple or three-pronged thraw-heuk and binder twine.
II. n. Three times as many. Hence threeplet, a triplet, one of three born together (n., m., s.Sc. 1972).Sc. 1827 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 380:
Jamie and his sisters would ride on his back — he could easy carry threeple.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick xxii.:
She hid threeplets 'at cam at 'e fift month.
III. v. 1. To increase threefold, to treble (ne.Sc., Ags. 1972).Abd. 1901 Wkly. Free Press (16 March):
Afore a fortnicht they doubled. Three weeks mair found them threeplet.
2. = Treeple, v., to beat triple time with the toe and heel in dancing (Abd. 1972).
[Altered form of Eng. triple, by conflation with three. Cf. Threebler.]
