Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1879-1963
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TOUPIE, n. Also toopie, tuppi (Sh.) and dim. forms toopick, toopich; toupican, toopikin, toupachan, toopachin, -ichen (ne. Sc.). Any high pointed object, a knob on top of anything (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.), a peak, pinnacle, of a hill, building, etc.; a high pointed hat or hat ornament (Bnff., Abd. 1972); the top of an egg; any high, narrow, top-heavy erection (Abd. 1825 Jam., toopi(c)k(in); ‡Bnff., Abd., Kcd. 1972); a peg-top (Sc. 1787 J. Elphinston Propriety II. 161). [′tupi, ′tupɪk, -ɪç; ne.Sc. ′tupɪçən]Abd. 1879 G. MacDonald Sir Gibbie x.:
A toupican — a neatly tied and trim tuft of the straw with which it [rick] was thatched, answering to the stone-ball on the top of a gable.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 75:
The wife an' the littlins on the tap o' the load, or awa' up on a toopachin.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick vi.:
Ye likit 'e toopichen o' an eggie.Abd. 1963 Press & Jnl. (20 July) Suppl. i.:
The little round pimple or toupachan of a hill.
Also used as a v. in the form toopikin, to set on the top of anything, to build high and without stability, pile up in a top-heavy manner (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 194).
[Extended usages of Eng. toupee, a top curl on a wig, a top-knot, Fr. toupet, id., a tuft.]
