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.
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.]
