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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡FUP, v., n. n.Sc. variant of Whup, whip (Cai. 1920; ne.Sc. 1953). Dim. fuppie, fupag. See P.L.D. § 134. Sc. usages:

I. v. 1. To pilfer (Bnff. 1916 T.S.D.C. II.; Bnff. 1953); 2. Phrs.: to fup a haud o', to seize in one's grip, to grab (Bnff.², Abd.²⁷ 1943); †to fup the cat, to be an itinerant tailor. See also Whup.2. Abd. 1921 Swatches o' Hamespun 8:
Ekin' oot a geyan bare, leensome liveliheed fuppin'-'e-cat, dargin', an' thiggin'.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 118:
She wid come ben the kirk wi' a suddenty, an' fup a haud o' 's an' set's doon wi' a doosht a bit farrer ben the seat.

II. n. 1. As in Eng. Also a blow, stroke, lit. and fig. (Abd.²⁷ 1953), a whipping; a moment, a trice. Phrs. and combs.: fupshaft, a whipstock (Abd.²⁷ 1953), and phr. †to lick the fupshaft, to kiss the rod, to suffer humiliation or defeat; fup-tow, a whip-lash for a spinning-top (Abd. 1923 A. Shewan Spirat Adhuc Amor 277); in a fup, in an instant (Cai. 1900 E.D.D.).Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 13:
How stand poor I, o'er ta'en wi' sick a trick, To look like blunty an' the fupshaft lick.Abd. after 1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherd MS. 58:
His exercise he speedily takes up, Nor e'er for gaing wrang anes got a fup.Abd. 1787 A. Shirrefs Jamie and Bess iii. i.:
I'm thinking Bessy's pride will dree a fup.Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 214:
While Maggie's floor dree'd mony a fup Frae their hard soles.Abd. 1881 W. Paul Past & Present 64:
I've seen fan ye wad hae gotten a piece for a bawbee as lang's a fup tow.

2. A blast of wind (Bnff.² 1943). Freq. in comb. eddy-fup, a wind whipping round a corner (Mry., Abd. 1916 T.S.D.C. II. 43; ne.Sc. 1953).Mry. 1913 J. F. in Northern Scot.:
There's ower mony eddyfups in the air: we're gaun tae get rain.Abd. 1925 R. L. Cassie Gangrel Muse 39:
The cloods are tearin' owre the lift, Sharp fup o' Boreas gars them drift.

3. Dim. fupag, a worthless woman (Cai. 1940 John o' Groat Jnl. (23 Feb.)). Cf. Whippy, n. and for the sense skelpie-limmer, s.v. Skelp.