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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CLYPE, Clipe, Cleip, n.² and v.² [kləip]

I. n.

1. “A rather large piece, as a clype of fadge” (n.Ant. 1924 “N. Antrim” in North. Whig (14 Jan.)); “a large cut of meat” (Uls. 1931 “Comber” in North. Whig (7 Dec.) 9/6).Ant. 1892 Ballymena Observer (E.D.D.):
That pig has torn a big clipe oot o' my dress.

2. “An unseemly mass or clot of any liquid, semi-liquid, or soft wet substance; a pendent disordered wet mass” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 28; Bnff.² 1936). Cf. Clypach, n.² (1). In pl.: sea anemones (Ags. 1960).

3. “Work [performed] in an ungraceful, dirty manner amongst liquid, semi-liquid, or soft substances; walking in an ungraceful, dirty manner” (Ib.). Cf. Clypach, n.² (2).

4. Fig. (1) “an ugly, ill-shaped fellow” (Bch., Mearns 1825 Jam.²; also Abd.¹⁹ 1936); “a person scanty of good manners, who has little in him, as the people say, but what the ‘Ram-horn spoon puts'” (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 137, clipe); Curriehill adds: “filthy and most ungracious”; “a greedy person that would lick plates on the sly” (Kcb.⁴ c.1900); †(2) “a drudge” (Abd. 1825 Jam.²). Cf. Sclype.(1) Bnff.² 1943:
Fa wid hae onything t' dae wi' yon muckle ill-faurt clype o' a chiel?Ags.(D) 1922 J. B. Salmond Bawbee Bowden xiii.:
The impident cleip; she'll no' do muckle o' a trade, yon smatchet.

II. v.

1. To work or walk in a slovenly manner (Bnff.², Abd.²² 1936). Ppl.adj. clypin', clumsy or dirty at work.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 29:
She geed clypin' up the street wee a basket on her airm.Ib.:
That's a fool clypin' trailach o' a dehm. A widna like t' eat faht she macks.

†2. “To act as a drudge” (Abd. 1825 Jam.²).

3. To flap (as of wet and disordered clothing).Bnff.² 1936:
Jean cam' in weet t' the skin, an' her wincey quite [petticoat] clype, clypet aboot her queets wi' a wecht nae ordinar'.