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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CURPLE, CURPEL, CURPIL, n.

1. A crupper (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., curple, obsol., curpil, obs.). Cf. Crupple. Sc. 1701 Household Bk. Lady Grisell Baillie (S.H.S. 1911) 7:
For a bridle and 2 curpils . . . 1. 17. 0. [Sc.]Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian iv.:
I fash mysell little wi' lords o' state; they vex me wi' a wheen idle questions about their saddles, and curpels.Lnk. c.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 32:
The auld beast being unfiery o' the feet, she fundred before, the girth and curple brake.Kcb.¹⁰ 1942 (obsol.):
The meer niver moved a fit till A went tae pit the curple below her tail.

Hence curple-gawt, adj. comb., “used of a horse: galled by the crupper under the tail” (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.Add.).Ayr. 1828 D. Wood Poems 63: 
The wauts are on the poney's hips She's curple gaut below the tail.

2. The buttocks (Ayr.⁴ 1928).Ayr. 1787 Burns Guidwife of Wauchhope (Cent. ed.) v.:
I'd be mair vauntie o' my hap, Douce hingin owre my curple, Than onie ermine ever lap, Or proud imperial purple.