Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1886-1953
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GLAIP, v., n. Also glaep, glape, glep. [glep, glɛp]
I. v. To swallow greedily, gulp down (Sh., Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 73; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., glep; Sh.10, glep, Ork.5, glaep, Cai. 1954); to grasp greedily (Cai.3 1931). Sometimes with up.Sh. 1886 "G. Temple" Britta 35:
Lookin' doun intill da sea below ye, roarin' and roarin' as if it wud glep ye up.Sh. 1892 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 243:
He [fish] just glaeped every huik as fast as dey gued ower da gunnel. [p. 34 (1877), glaped.]Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
De eart' gleps op de water.Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 324:
I jeust made a sap o' broth aboot da mate an' glaepid id mesel.Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr, Navember 5:
Da fresh air wisna made ta be glaepet.Sh. 1953 New Shetlander No. 35. 32:
My hert aince wis light as da hungriest scorie 'At e'er glaepit wirms ower da delled land in Voar.
Phr.: glaepit and spued, unhealthy-looking (Ork.5 1949). Cf. eaten and spued, id., s.v. Eat, v., II. 2. (1).
II. n. The act of swallowing (Sh., Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.); a mouthful, gulp of something, a rapid bite (Ork.5 1954); "also of a dog — 'He made a glaip at me'; or often of a fish — 'It made a glaip for the bait'" (Ork. 1929 Marw.).
[Norw. dial. gløypa, to swallow, devour, eat greedily, gløyp, morsel, mouthful; O.N. gleypa, to gulp down, swallow. ]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Glaip v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/glaip>
