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.
Quotation dates: 1850-1949
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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.
