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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ripe, adj. Also: ryp(e, ryip(e; reyp. [ME and e.m.E. ripe (c1200), rype (1297), OE rípe.] 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Vetus, rype 1587 Carmichael Etym. 48.
Maturus, ripe

1. Of grain, fruit, etc.: Ready for reaping or gathering. Also fig. Also absol.Also, both lit. and fig., in a condensed sentence.(1) 1375 Barb. x 191.
For syndry cornys … Wox ryp [C. rype] to wyn to mannys fud a1500 Henr. Fab. 1804.
We think, quhen that ȝone lint bollis ar ryip, To mak vs feist, and fill vs off the seid Ib. 2792 (Bann.).
Seis thow … ȝone ioly flat Of ryp aitis … and quheit? c1552 Lynd. Mon. 848.
Fructis indeficient, Ay alyke rype, and redolent a1568 Bann. MS 267a/27.
And quhen gud corne growis ryp withowttin stro 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Praecox, rype befoir the sessoun 1597 Elgin Rec. II 56.
Qwhen thair cornis ar ryipe and in danger 1652 Nicoll Diary 102.
Rype wyneberries and graps 1654 Ib. 131.
Greyne peyis … full and rypfig. 1611-57 Mure Sonn. vi 13.
But those fayre brests' rype clusters quho myt presse [etc.] Id. Early Misc. P. i 111.
A basse-borne passioune schairce rype till rottinabsol. a1680 Hay Fleming Six Saints I 232.
Lord, spare the green, and take the ripe(2) 1627 Bk. Carlaverock II 80.
Our ennemie and we are lying att a long gard till corn and ambition be reyp

2. Of a person's age: a. Regarded as marking full development of body and mind. a1400 Leg. S. v 399.
Bot fra he to rype elde wane He lefit the bischope Ib. xiv 6. c1420 Wynt. vi 104.
Quhen Charlys wes in hys yhowthade Growand wp to rype manhade 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas To the Reader 8.
Till ryper ȝeirs her infancy subdue 1636 Saltoun Kirk S. in Reliq. Antiq. Sc. 151.
It is ordeaned be minister and sessiowne, that quhosoever is com to rype age, and capabill of learning [etc.]

b. Advanced. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 301.
Quhen he come to rypare eld … He sat his hart one heare thing Ib. xl 20.
As he growine wes in eld Rypare Ib. 609.
That he of this lyf suld pas Of parfit dat & rype elde The dete of flesche he can ȝeld 1562-3 Winȝet II 58/17.
Quhat euery thingis thai ar quhilkis be proces of the rypear aige ar generit [etc.] 1627 Dunkeld Presb. II 369.
Whyles to the … hazarding off the lyffis off these off ryper age

3. a. Of a bird: Fully fledged. b. ? Of a person: Fully developed physically; mature.a. 1596 Dalr. I 60/27.
And now quhen thay [sc. barnacle-geese] ar rype and radie to flie [etc.] ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 88.
This ile is full of wild fowls, and quhan the fowls hes thair birds ripe, men … uses … to fetche with thame hame their boatfull of dry wild fowlsb. 1579, 1617 Despauter (1617) 45.
Puber, ripe of age to engender

4. Of a person's mind or faculties: Well developed by study, experience, etc.; characterized by ability to operate efficiently.Also comb. in rype-wittit.(1) 1456 Hay II 99/31.
That a rype discrecioun with gude deliberacioun is a grete glore to the dignitee ryale Ib. 108/15.
A woman … quhilk has nocht commonly sa rype wit as man 1567 G. Ball. 106.
With mynde rype and degest a1568 Wedderburn Bann. MS 287b/9.
Quhair is thy knawlege and intendment And thy ryp wit in solist bissines 1596 Dalr. I 137/17.
Of … ane rype ingine Ib. II 32/27.
In Scotland neuir was a king quha … resoluet with ryper jugement materis in perrel [etc.]comb. 1456 Hay II 149/18.
The lave that thou fyndis nocht sa traist, na sa rype wittit [etc.](2) 1587-99 Hume 20/98.
God … gaue to man … A quick revoluing reasone rype to rewle all the laue(3) 1571 Edinb. Test. II 197.
He in his perfyt and ryp mynd … maid his testament 1575 Ib. III 277b.
Thomas Thomsoun seik in body haill and ripe in vnderstanding 1577 Ib. V 145.
Seik in body ȝit … with ane rype & degest mynd I mak my testament 1578 Brechin Test. I 6.
With ane ryp and disgaist mynd I mak my testament 1668 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 29 July.
Seik in bodie but of ryp and perfytt memorie

5. Of deliberations, decisions, etc.: Based on sufficient information and full and informed consideration. a1400 Leg. S. xxviii 210.
Til he avysit ware To ȝeld til hyre rype ansuere c1420 Wynt. v 3844.
To byde jugement off resowne Wyth rype examinatyowne 1428 Liber Melros 521.
The saide assis … with gude and rype avysment saide at thai fande [etc.] 1442 Stirlings of Keir 216.
The resonis … herde and sadly degestyt, wyth diligent commownyng, examinacioun and rype avysement 1531 Bell. Boece II 375.
Efter that he had tane ripe deliberation in this mater 1535 Stewart 26161.
And sone all aucht, with rype knawlege and cleir, Accordit hes 1536–7 Sc. Hist. Rev. VII 358.
The vtilite … of our said abbay … deligentlie tretit and ripe deliberatioun thairupon had 1553 Rec. Earld. Orkney 252.
The eldest sonnis soune of Katheren of Kyrknes, with ane ryipe and sad consell 1596 Melrose P. *617.
Eftir lang conference and ryip aduyisement

b. Properly considered or deliberated. 1532 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 372.
Na lordis … to geif voit … except thaim … that argunit the mater and had the samin ripe in thar hedis

6. Of (a body of) persons: Well qualified by knowledge or experience to take decisions. 1650 Glasgow Wrights Acts 11.
The croft may be rype in thair judgement from thair owne recordis how to proceid in such ane caise 1695 Conv. Burghs IV 203.
To the effect the royall borrowes may be the more rype and deliberat … as to [etc.]

7. Suitable for an activity planned. 1614 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 160.
It will nocht be the worse to spaire it vntill the turne be ryiper