Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
RIPPLE, v.2, n.1 Also riple (Ags. 1750 Meikle Miln Roup Roll MS.).
I. v. 1. As in Eng., to separate the seeds of flax from the stalk. Hence rippling-caimb, -kame, a rippling comb (Sc. p.1715 Jacob. Relics (Hogg) 42; Ayr. 1796 Burns Had I the Wyte iii.; Ags. 1887 J. McBain Arbroath 115).
2. Fig.: of birds, to clean the seeds off standing grain (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.).
II. n. The instrument used to comb the seeds of flax from the stems, a rippling-comb (Sc. 1743 R. Maxwell Select Trans. 356, riple).
[O.Sc. rippil, to remove seeds from flax, c.1470, rypling came, 1569.]
