Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1725, 1804-1957
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ORP, v., n. Also urp (Abd. 1825 Jam.), wurp (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). [orp]
I. v. 1. To fret, grumble, complain in a peevish, nagging manner, murmur discontentedly (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Ags. 1964), “to weep with a convulsive pant” (Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) Gl.). Ppl.adj. orpi(e)t, wurpit, fretful, discontented, peevish (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis; Rxb. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.; Sc. 1808 Jam.; Abd. 1915; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); vbl.n. orpin, fretfulness, complaining.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shep. i. ii.:
Like dawted We'an . . . That for some feckless Whim will orp and greet.Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poems I. 87:
The weary herdsman, lang his day, Orps at the ling'ring beam.Ags. 1823 L. Watt Poems 6:
Before I learn, 'twill make me sweat, An' orp an' growl, an' girn and fret.s.Sc. 1857 H. S. Riddell Psalms xxxvii. 1:
Wurpna thysel becaus o' the ill-deedie.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xiv.:
Benjie was an orpiet, peekin, little sinner.Per. 1895 R. Ford Tayside Songs 12:
My heart is ever orpin' on The bonnie banks o' Tay.Ags. 1930:
He orpit and orpit tae be latten jine the Navy. He orpit till he got a bicycle.Ags. 1956 Forfar Dispatch (7 June):
I'm beginnin tae realise the power there is in orpin.
2. To complain from ill-health, to be constantly ailing and sickly, not to thrive, to shrink, shrivel. Ppl.adj. orpit, of taste: causing one to screw up the mouth, tart, bitter; wurpit-lookin, of persons: small and thin, having a shrivelled appearance (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Sc. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (Nov.) 200:
Of changling Imp — he spoke, no care could rear, Which backward seemed to orp, from year to year.Abd. 1921 Swatches o' Hamespun 9:
Foo they tastit sae orpit, he never cwid mak oot.
II. n. A grouse, complaint (Ags. 1964).Ags. 1957 Forfar Dispatch (8 Feb.):
Ilka mornin I orped tae gae and ilka orp got the same answer.
