Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SLERP, v., n., adj. Also slirp (Watson); slairp (Jam.). [slɛrp]
I. v. 1. intr. To salivate or slobber, to splutter messily, to spit (Ork., Fif., Rxb. 1970); “to make a disagreeable sucking sound when sipping spoon-food” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); to kiss in a drooling sentimental way.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
He was sittan there slerpan an' spittan a' ower the floor.Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 97:
"... Cheanick Budge is telt me all aboot yin cairry-on thoo wur haein' the day wi' yin geud for noathing bissom, Andromeda Laird. Slerpin' an' kissin' on the public road indeed."Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 122:
He began slerpan and kissan on peur Sarah.
2. tr. (1) To slabber or smear with a wet or messy substance, to daub on carelessly or sloppily; ppl.adj. slirpin, messy, untidy, slatternly (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., slirp).Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Slerp his face wi' a weet towel.Ork.1 1950:
To slerp on a coat of paint, to lay on (with careless speed).
(2) To consume noisily or messily, to lick up in a slobbering way (wm.Sc. 1904 E.D.D.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., slirp; Edb., Kcb., Dmf. 1970).
II. n. 1. A blob or smear of some wet, messy substance, a dollop, gob (Ork. 1970); ‡“a spoonful of liquid taken hastily” with a slobbering sound (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Wgt., Rxb. 1970).Ork. 1929 Marw.:
A great slerp o' spitting.
2. A wet smacking blow, a resounding slap (Ork. 1970); a slobbery kiss.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
He got a slerp on his face wi' the weet cloot. Gie her [horse] a slerp.Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 88:
... and that while it was true that under the influence of home brew he had given Portia Rosie a jocular slerp in a dark corner at a recent dance, he could by no means be described as having a notion of her.
3. A slovenly woman, a slattern, slut (Fif. 1825 Jam.; Per., Fif. 1970).Fif. 1883 W. D. Latto Bodkin Papers 21:
Wha wad hae thocht ye was sic a handless slerp?
III. adj. Slovenly, messy, untidy (Sc. 1825 Jam., s.v. slairt); also in extended form slerpy, id. (Ork., Fif. 1970).
[Imit. variant of Slorp, q.v. Cf. Slair, Slairg, Slairk, etc.]
