Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SIPPLE, v., n. Also siple-. [sɪpl]

I. v. tr. and intr. To sip continuously, go on drinking in small quantities, to tipple (Sc. 1825 Jam.). Hence sip(p)ler, a tippler.Sc. 1748 Smollett Rod. Random xlv.:
Improperly applied to the taking of coffee, inasmuch as people did not drink, but sip or sipple that liquor.Edb. 1757 Petition of Poor Alexander Bonum Magnum Dedic.:
Unto the Right Aethereal the siplers.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary ix.:
Sippling and tippling wi' the bailies and deacons when they met.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 27:
We had nae jabblin thing like scaud ava to sipple wi'.Sc. 1832 Whistle-binkie 14:
I had not learn'd to sipple tea.Clc. 1882 J. Walker Poems 21:
But we'll sipple at the barley-bree.Mry. 1883 F. Sutherland Sunny Memories 28:
I sippled frae sweet mossy fountains.

II. n. A repeating sipping, a tipple.Rnf. 1805 G. McIndoe Poems 18:
We Scots fock like a sipple.Abd. 1865 G. MacDonald Alec Forbes lxvii.:
'Deed, Mr. Cupples, ye s' hae neither sook nor sipple o' that spring.