Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1826, 1890, 1942
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KELP, n. Also kilp(ie), †kelpie (Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems, Gl.). [kɛlp(i)]
1. Esp. in dim. form, a mischievous young person (Sc. 1818 Sawers; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1941; Slk. 1959).
2. A big, raw-boned youth (ne.Sc. 1959).Ags. 1826 A. Balfour Highland Mary I. 45:
It's some kelpie conneckit either wi' the press-gang or the gaugers.Ags. 1890 Brechin Advertiser (8 July) 3:
An' we, like a wheen glaiket kilpies, as we were, ran here an' there seekin nests.Abd.2 1942:
The fairmer fee'd an eeseless kelp o' a loon that cud hardly pu' a neep.
3. A well-grown young animal (Kcb.4 c.1900).
[A variant of Gilp, Gilpie, q.v.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Kelp n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 1 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/kelp>
