Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TIPPER, v. 1. intr. To walk on tip-toe or in an affected or unsteady manner, to trip, teeter (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Sh. 2000s); also ¶tr. to place one's foot lightly on the toes. Reduplic. form tipper-taiper, id. Comb. tipper-taes, tip-toes.Ayr. 1787 Burns Letters (Ferguson) No. 112:
[The meere] tipper-taipers when she taks the gate first like a Lady's gentlewoman in a minuwae.Fif. 1807 A. Williamson Poems 132:
A thriftless heir, Who tipp'ring walks, and maks a windy skew.Sc. 1935 W. Soutar Poems in Scots 40:
She tirl'd upon her tipper-taes.Sh. 1954 New Shetlander No. 40. 14:
Whan it got sae bad dat I cood hardly tipper my fit ta da grund de made me go ashore fur good.Sh. 1994 Laureen Johnson in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 165:
I stöd at da gate an watched her tipperin up da rodd in her high-heeled shön. Shö wis a peerie, dark-advised body, slim-biggit an kerryin a muckle handbag.

2. tr. To place in an insecure or unsteady position, to cause to rock.Slg. 1818 W. Muir Poems 30:
Trust nae mair your nest to tipper On bending twigs.