Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JIB, Jibb, v., n.¹ Also jyb.

I. v. To milk to the last drop, to strip a cow's udder (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 283; Dmf. 1894 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 150; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Lnk., Kcb., Dmf. 1959); fig. to plunder, rob, fleece (Lnk. 1825 Jam.).Sc. 1724 Ramsay Ever Green I. 216:
Our Trechour Peirs thair Tyranns treit, Quha jyb them, and thair Substance eit.Dmf. 1899 Country Schoolmaster (Wallace) 339:
They “jib” their kye, feed them on “orts” and “locks”.

Hence vbl.n. jibbin(g)s, the last drops of milk drawn from a cow's udder, the “strippings” (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 283; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 30; Lnk., Kcb., Dmf., Slk. 1959).Dmf. 1828 Carlyle in Froude Life (1882) II. 27:
Jane the lesser . . . furnished butter and afterings (jibbings) for tea.

II. n. A small drop (Kcb. 1959).Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 30:
There's a wee jib in the greybeard yet.