Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

YIRP, v., n. Also yerp.

I. v. 1. To chirp in a piping fashion, as a very young bird, to chirrup (Bwk., Fif. a.1838 Jam. MSS. X. 365; Sh. 1974).Sc. 1937 Oor Mither Tongue (MacWhannell) 43:
Helter-skelter at the grain Thou yirps and battles.

2. Of persons: to harp on a topic, to wrangle, argue pertinaciously, to fret, make a fuss or complaint (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 213; Sh., Abd., Lnk. 1974). Ppl.adj. yirpin, fretful, querulous, cantankerous (Id.).Edb. c.1850 J. Smith Hum. Sc. Stories 14:
She hed been yowlin' an' yerpin' an' girnin' at me like an auld cat.e.Lth. 1885 S. Mucklebackit Rural Rhymes 141:
He had been yerping about “Spiritual Freedom”.Fif. 1909 J. C. Craig Sangs o' Bairns 77:
They'll yerp an' argy owre a threed Till it's a tether lang.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 77:
Da ten yirpin i' da face of da tidder aboot dir forbears.

II. n. 1. The act of fretting (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 213).

2. A prating, garrulous person.Edb. c.1905:
She's a damned yirp.