Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1952-1979
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WHALP, n., v. Also whaulp (Kcb. 1911 G. M. Gordon Auld Clay Biggin' 83), whaalp (Sh. 1892 Shetland News (15 Oct.)), whulp (Bnff. 1871 Banffshire Jnl. (19 Dec.) 9; Per., Fif. 1915–26 Wilson; Rxb. 1942 Zai). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. whelp, a puppy, to produce pups (I.Sc., Cai., m., s.Sc. 1974), and in fig., gen. contemptuous, senses, of human beings (Lnk. c.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 230; Ayr. 1786 Burns Twa Dogs 11, Sc. 1816 Scott Letters (Cent. Ed.) IV. 217, Kcb. 1894 Crockett Raiders ii.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein). Dims. whalpie (Abd. 1826 D. Anderson Poems 16), whaulpie (Kcb. 1894 Crockett Raiders xliv.), wholpie (Abd. 1865 G. MacDonald Alec Forbes lxiv.), ¶whapie (Peb. 1817 R. D. C. Brown Comic Poems 15). Deriv. whalpish, of or like a whelp (Clc. 1902 J. Christie Poems 6). For ne.Sc. forms see Folp. [ʍɑlp, ʍʌlp] Sc. usage: a standard size of brick, esp. fire-brick, of longitudinal shape, averaging 12 inches long, 6 inches broad and 2½-3 ins. thick (Fif., Ayr. 1974).Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 24:
"Weel, thoo swindlin' ould whalp," said Pottinger. Edb. 1979 Albert D. Mackie in Joy Hendry Chapman 23-4 (1985) 42:
Repentant o my infidelitie
And thae sculdudderie warks
Frae La Fontaine, Crebillon, Busny-Rabutin
I brocht intil the Advocates' Library,
That sent the pack o them yowlan at my heels
Like whulpies lowpan at Tod Lowrie's brush.
