Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Slip, Slyp, v. Also: slipp(e, slipe, slype; sleip, slepe, sleep. P.p. also (once) slippen. [ME and e.m.E. slip (Cursor M.), slipp (Rolle), slyp(pe (14th c.), MLG slippen (Du. slippen), ON sleppa.]

1. To go or move with a gliding motion; to pass or go lightly or quietly, without attracting attention, secretly; to escape in such a fashion.Chiefly const. prep. phrases, advs.Also, once, to leyt slip.Also transf. and fig.(1) 1513 Doug. v iv 20.
On bawbord fast the innar way he leyt slyp, And wan befor the formast schip 1513 Doug. ix viii 31.
Throw the drery cite The weyngit messynger, Fame, dyd swyftly fle, And slippand come to thy moder a1568 Scott xxi 41.
This lady [sc. Reason] … teichis me … Quhome in to lippin and confyd; I slip, and lattis all ourslyd(b) 1513 Doug. vii vi 96.
This turnyt tre [sc. a top] … to se swa sleip [Sm. sleip, Ruddim. slepe] and quhirl abowt 1540 Lynd. Sat. 647.
I come in sleipand at the porttransf. c1590 Fowler I 96/358.
The tyme dois slipp … and through thy ioy thow knowst not how is spent(2) 1531 Bell. Boece I 180.
In the nicht … the Romanis slippit by the tentis of Scottis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 690 (Ch.).
I slipit into ane bordell 1567 Crim. Trials I i 494.
Thai than slippit down ane clos beneith the Frier Wynd a1568 Scott ii 185.
He slippit swiftly to the slak And rudly doun he raid it a1578 Pitsc. I 325/4.
The king … slipit out of the gouernouris of the challmer and the ȝemens of the stabill lyke as he had bene ane of thame 1596 Dalr. I 91/2.
Al thair harnesse was lycht, that … the lychtlier thay mycht slip out of the handes of thair ennimies 1596 Dalr. I 297/6.
Sche … slipis intil a nuik neir by, as gif [etc.] c1612 Skene Memorabilia 12.
The samyn nicht the Erle of Angus slippit furth of the castell of Edinburgh 1616 Sutherland Bk. II 122.
His lordschip … hes his bark in redines to slip to the siefig. 1562-92 Wode's Psalter ciii.
Suffer not his benefites to slippe out of thy mynde 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xiii.
As many of the Papisticall punkes hes secreetly slipped in the kirk ?1661-5 M. Bruce Soul-Confirmation 10.
Under the notion of duty he has slipped in sin among their hands(3) 1513 Doug. v iii 100.
Now hes Pistrys the fordell and syne … The byg Centawr … slyppis by 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 225.
Syne slyp awaye withouttin more Quhen he had gottin that he sang fore c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 935.
Scho slippit in, or euer he wist, … And … oppinnit the lokkis 1596 Dalr. II 314/23.
Shortlie efter he louset out of the reide … and slipit away narowlie 1603 Moysie 90.
The Erle of Huntlie … being at his denner rease thairfra, and slipped away without paying of his lawing 1622-6 Bisset II 222/10.
Oftymes men feirand mischeif dois leif there schipis, and slippis away in there floit boit 1639 Baillie I 144.
For if we had been delayed till morrow, it was feared many would have slippen away 1684 Edinb. City Archives Letters II (26).
In order … to slip up at leasure before and be prepareing my friends ere they come up

b. specif. To extricate oneself (quickly) out of (an article of apparel); to dismount quickly fra (a horse). c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xxxiii 106.
He schewre his feddreme … And slippit owt of it 1566 Hawick Arch. Soc. (1878) 12.
The said Johne … slipis fra his horse to have rin away

c. Of an utterance, flatulence, etc.: To escape fra, from a person. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 101/41.
Ane blast of wind son fra hir slippis 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 47.
It cannot be said unadvysitly slippit from hir that was sa oft spokin

2. To let (someone or something) slip: To allow (a person) to go (from custody), to release or allow to escape. Also transf. and fig. b. specif. To allow (reins) to slide (through one's fingers), to release (them). 1554 Corr. M. Lorraine 391.
In awentuir my lord of Catnes wret to let thir plegis slype 1562-3 Winȝet II 53/25.
Quhat thai suld hald, or quhat thai suld lat slip 1572 Sat. P. xxxvi 64.
Lyndsay … tuik thair geir, and luit thame selfis slip 1586 Douglas Chart. 289.
Caus mak all possible moyen for apprehensioun of the fugitiues … and lett nane of thame slip 1690 Cramond Kirk S. III 18 Dec.
How came she let her slipp away, and not keep her?transf. and fig. 1556 Knox IV 136.
Let no daye slyppe or want some comfort receyved … Let na day slip over without sum comfort a1605 Montg. Misc. P. i 6.
Let thou hir [sc. time] slippe … Thou gettis no grippe agane fra sho be ganeb. 1513 Doug. v xiii 123.
Thar renȝeis … With hys awin handys [he] leit do slyp and slakkis 1513 Doug. xii viii 134.
Breithfull ire now he Leyt slyp at large, … with renȝeis fre

3. To move quickly, involuntarily, to slide; specif. of one's foot. Also in fig. context.(a) a1540 Freiris Berw. 558.
I saw him slip … Doun our the stair 1566 Hawick Arch. Soc. (1878) 12.
The said erle slipit ower ane souch and tomblit doun the same c1694 Hist. Clan Gregor II 201.
As he was going over the dyke his foot sliped and he fell(b) a1663 Pappity Stampoy 54.
Thou shouldst not tell thy foe when thy foot sleeps

4. tr., reflex. To move (a limb, oneself) with a sliding or gliding motion, quickly. 1513 Doug. vii vi 28 (Sm.).
Full slyde scho slyppis hir membris our allquhayr 1513 Doug. ix ix 61.
The wild ragyt best … Apon the wapynnys rynnys with a braid Slyppis hir self and with gret fors hir beris Apon the … speris

b. tr. Const. adv.: To move (something) in the manner or direction indicated by the adv. Also fig., specif. Const. over = to evade (an issue). 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2172.
Slip doun ȝour hois 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3983.
Slip in thy heid in to this cordfig. 1596 Dalr. I 18/30.
Tuedale … because of the gude wol in quhilke it abundes … sulde nocht be slipit ouer with silence 1624 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I 384.
Who … got slipped throw under the kings majesties hand a right of patronage of the subdeanrie of Glasgow

5. To allow (a person or animal) to escape, also, in fig. context, to let a person go (from a relationship). 1585 Burntisland B. Ct. 3 Sept.
That thay slipp nor hipp none vnder pane of ane dowble vnlaw 1603 Philotus 100.
Unto ȝour self ȝe'ile do greit wrang Sweit hart now and ȝe slip him 1650 Brechin Presb. 23.
I … sleiped the nolt in the corne

6. To detach or disengage (an anchor rope). 1602 Conv. Burghs II 144.
Schipis quha … to eschew gritter skaith … slipis thair tow in that cais the anker tow that is slippit salbe payit be bayth the schipis

7. To allow (a ship) to sail; to free (her) for a voyage. 1602 Conv. Burghs II 144.
Gif … that ane pairt [sc. of the owners] will haue the schip to saill ane vther pairt nocht … the schip sall nocht ly idill bot the leist pairt sall sett the ship vpoun ane price … than slip hir and latt hir away

8. To remove, become free of (a constraint). b. specif. Of a snake: To slough off (its skin). 1682 Lauder Observes App. iv 303.
The dog … that was supposed to have been hanged, but did at last slip the halter 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 78.
A grip is soon sliptb. 1513 Doug. ii viii 60.
The edder … Now slippit hir slowch

9. To neglect, to fail (to carry out an obligation, keep a condition, etc.), to skip or miss (an occasion or opportunity.); to lose, waste (time); to omit to mention (a fact). b. specif. To miss, fail to catch (a boat).(1) 1503–4 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 98.
The presentatioun [sc. of an infeftment] to be within xv dayes … quhilk gif thai slip than to pertene to the towne 1533 Boece 307.
That sa grete iniuris with dishonoure suld nocht be slippit a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 445 (L).
Slip na certantie for hoip 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 384.
He … slips the conditions of the rink 1600-1610 Melvill 786.
Perciving that thair wes no … profite … to be purchasit be conferrence, thai desertit and slippit the dyet appoyntit to be keipit 1612 Maxwell Mem. II 59.
I am straitit presently with Abircornis baptism … and may not slip it 1623 Sutherland Bk. II 141.
He sall slippe no good occasion to remember his maiestie of it 1640 Aberd. B. Rec. III 220.
The dyet is peremptour, whiche, if once slipped, cannot be regained 1664 W. Guthrey Sermon 33.
Tis but daffing for folk to slip prayer 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 283.
He slipped the opportunity, and fled from his duty 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 284.
The despising and slipping of the opportunity(2) c1590 J. Stewart 24/332.
Roland slippit hes his tyme 1614 Breadalbane Lett. 7 Dec.
I desyre ȝow that ȝow will slip no tyme to sie these thingis performed(3) 1549 Lamb Resonyng 93/15, 17.
Heir ȝowr buik … hes craftalie slippit the interspace betuix Kyng Dauidis homage and his sonnis homage and als hes slippit the ȝeir of Christ for to eschew the impugnatiounb. 1515–16 Treas. Acc. V 70.
To thre servitouris of my lord of Ros quhilk slippit thair ship

10. To evade, elude or escape (justice, etc.).(a) 1513 Doug. ii vi 41.
Panthus, slippit the Grekis speris a1538 Abell 27b.
Satraill … slippit iustice 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 106.
The Lord has appointed thy conscience … na thing can slip it(b) 1600-1610 Melvill 21.
My righteus God let me nocht slipe that fault, bot gaiff me a warning