Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
TRIPE, n., adj., v., adv. Also trype and in dim. or freq. forms trypal, -el.
I. n. A tall, thin, ungainly person (Sc. 1825 Jam., a lang tripe o' a fallow; Abd. 1973, trypal); a slovenly person (Bnff. 1930, trypal).Abd. 1739 Caled. Mag. (1788) 503:
But a lang trypal there was snap, Came on him wi' a benn.Abd. 1920 Banffshire Jnl. (8 May) 10:
Ye pammerin trypel.
II. adj. Slovenly, gangling, gen. applied to a tall, ungainly person (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 200, trypal).
III. v. To walk or work in a careless, slovenly manner (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 200, trype, trypal). Vbl.n., ppl.adj. tryp(al)an, trypalin (Id.).
[Extended use of Eng. tripe, the intestines of an animal or human being, also †as a term of contempt for a person, Fr. tripe, tripaille, entrails.]
