Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1893-1950
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LAPPER, v.2, n.2 Also lopper.
I. v. Of water: to lap, plash gently, ripple (Sh., Abd., Ags., m.Lth., Bwk., Wgt. 1960); also tr., to lave, wash against.Kcb. 1893 Crockett Raiders ii.:
The bonny tide as it lappers again' the auld toor.Lth. 1925 C. P. Slater Marget Pow 119:
There's naething to be seen round about but green hills, and blue hills, and the loch lapperin' down below.Sc. 1933 W. Soutar Seeds in the Wind 27:
The wee burn loppert laichly.wm.Sc. 1943 Scots Mag. (Sept.) 438:
An' the steppin'-stanes is lappered i' the water.Sh. 1950 New Shetlander No. 20. 27:
We'll sit i' da boat, da heeldin boat, wi da water lapperin under da stammerin.
II. n. A lapping sound or motion, a gentle plash, of water (Abd., Ags., m.Lth. 1960).Lth. 1925 C. P. Slater Marget Pow 32:
When he saw the green brae … and heard the robins singing, and the lapper of the tide on the shore, his heart melted within him.
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"Lapper v.2, n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/lapper_v2_n2>
