Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1825-1898
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RAPPLE, v. Also raple, ropple.
1. To grow speedily and in a rank manner, to shoot up, orig. of vegetation, then of a young person growing rapidly (Lth., Rxb. 1825 Jam., rapple, ropple, Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also in n.Eng. dial.
2. To work or make in a hurried, slovenly manner, esp. to stitch or mend a garment hurriedly and badly (Sc. 1818 Sawers; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., ropple). Also fig.n.Sc. 1825 Jam.:
One who spins fast and coarse, is said to rapple up the lint.Fif. 1864 St Andrews Gazette (16 Jan.):
An' my dear gudewife, an' my bairns a' chime Wi' me when I raple a wee bit o' rhyme.Fif. 1898 S. Tytler Mrs Carmichael's Goddesses xii.:
She began to mend the tears in her clothes a little less roughly than Bell “rappled” them up.
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"Rapple v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/rapple>
