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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SHAPE, v., n. Also shaep, shap. Sc. forms and usages:

I. v. A. Forms: Pr.t. shap(e), shaep; pa.t. †shoop(e); pa.p. ‡shapen. The verb has now reg. the weak conjugation shape, shapit.

B. Usages: 1. intr. To turn out, show promise of being, etc., to adapt (oneself) to, Gen.Sc., also in dial. or colloq. Eng. Comb. ill-shapit, ill-disposed, having bad manners, perverse-natured.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 42:
She's young, an' sae can shape to onie cast.Ayr. 1870 J. K. Hunter Life Studies 189:
An ill-shapet, ungrateful' impertinent blackguard.Sc. 1887 Jam.:
It shapes weel to grow a guid beast. The naig'll shape better for the cart nor the plow.Fif. 1954:
To shape in — to fit in. He juist shapit in = he was the very man for the job.

2. To direct one's course, make for or set out, set oneself (Cai., Ayr. 1970). Also in n.Eng. dial.Lnk. 1881 A. Wardrop J. Mathison 32:
If we dinna shape awa' tae oor beds.Sc. 1887 Jam.:
He shaps to his work like a man.

3. To attempt, to try, contrive (Cai. 1970). Also in n.Eng. dial.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 14, 46:
For 'tweish twa hillocks the poor lambie lies, An' ay fell forthert, as it shoope to rise. . . . At last he shoop himsell again to stand.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Moss-Hags xxxii.:
I should shape to bring Maisie to see my hiding-place.

4. To cut cloth to a certain pattern or shape (I. and n.Sc. 1970). Obs. in Eng. Freq. in phr. to shape and sew [ʃu:]. See Shew. Hence shapin(g), gen. in pl., the shreds or cuttings of cloth left over in making a garment (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Abd. 1970). Also fig.; comb. shapin' claes, one's clothes, garments. Cf. n.Eng. dial. shapping-gear, id. Shapin may however represent the ppl.adj. shapen.Sc. 1726 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 156:
The widow can shape, and the widow can sew.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 124:
What she here has shapen, I shall sew.Kcb. 1814 W. Nicholson Poet. Wks. 91:
I'll cut thy buckram soul to shapin's!Ayr. 1821 Galt Annals xxxviii.:
Asking for shapings of silks and satins.Slk. 1820 Hogg Tales (1874) 260:
She sat shaping and sewing.Sc. 1829 G. Robertson Recollections 95:
Not a shaping or shred of it [cloth] could escape. Some damsel from the town, who had been taught to shape and sew.Sc. 1889 Jokes (Ser. 1) 68:
A farmer's wife engaged a dressmaker to sew for her on the “day” system. She said there was thus a great “savin' o' claith” and that she got “a' the shapin's”.Kcb. 1893 Crockett Raiders xxxiii.:
I wad hae gien a' my shapin' claes to sit there.

II. n. 1. A pattern, a piece of paper cut to the shape of a part of a garment and used by a tailor or dressmaker in cutting cloth. Gen.Sc.Gsw. 1904 H. Foulis Erchie xxiii.:
If I could jist get a shape I wad buy a remnant and mak' ye a topcoat mysel?

2. An attitude, posture; conduct, manner. Obs. in Eng. Phr. to mak a shape, to put oneself into the attitude of trying to do something, to make an attempt or effort at. Gen.Sc.Ayr. 1870 J. K. Hunter Life Studies 175:
Such was the unfeelin' shape o' the baker and his wife that the lassock was to gang hame.Ags. 1894 People's Friend (6 Aug.) 498:
She'd mak' a puir shape in a hairst field.Cai. 1896 J. Horne Canny Countryside 64:
He got into shape to defend himself.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (7 May):
Da shapes 'at Geordie wis pittin' himsel' intil skornin' Aandrew.Sh. 1901 Shetland News (14 Dec.):
Sees doo me makkin ony shape at it?Sc. 1929 R. B. Cunninghame-Graham Thirty Tales 31:
I could mak' a shape at yon glass of beer the now.

3. An odd or droll figure (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Wgt., Rxb. 1970; Edb., Gsw. 2000s). Also in Eng. dial.Watson:
Sic a shape she lookit! Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 61:
shape An oddly-shaped person: 'Nice-lookin, him? He's a wee shape!' Edb. 2004:
She gaun oot wi that daft wee shape fae Sighthill.

4. A commotion, uproar, to-do (Rxb. 1970). Cf. Eng. dial. shape, mess, confusion.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
What a shape it was!

5. One's ordinary indoor dress (Rxb. 1970). Obs. in Eng.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
Ti be in yin's shape.

6. An inferior one of its kind, a poor specnnen (of something) (Sh. 1970).Sh. 1897 Shetland News (11 Sept.):
“Ye'll hae a raasir?” “Yea, I hae da shape.”