Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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IMP, n., v. Also hemp, himp (Sh.), (see H, 1. (3)).

I. n. ‡1. A young shoot of a tree or plant, esp. one used in grafting (Sc. 1825 Jam.; ‡Rxb.⁴ 1958). Now obs. in Eng. exc. in dial. Also used fig.Sc. 1700 Foulis Acct. Bk. (S.H.S.) 273:
There is 3 plum imps in the wester stank in the north border of the quarter queen mother 2 yester plum.Sc. 1766 J. Brown Expos. Romans 201:
They have been imped into him [Christ], (like an imp joined to an old stock).

2. A length of horsehair twisted to form a thin cord and used as part of a fishing-line to which the hook is attached (I.Sc., Cai., Fif. (hemp), Bwk. 1958). Also in n.Eng. dial.; “a leather loop at the end of a wire on a fishing line” (Cai.³ 1934). See P.S.A.S. (1880-1) 148. Comb. imp-, hemp-stane, a stone or other weight hung from the horse-hair and spun round in order to twist it (Fif., Bwk. 1958).Sc. 1706 Foulis Acct. Bk. (S.H.S.) 427:
For 3 sea grass for busking fishing Houcks: and 12 imps of Hair for that use. . . .s.Sc. 1825 Jam.:
One length of hair twisted, as forming part of a fishing-line; as, “Whether will ye put five or six hairs in the imp?”Ork. 1903 G. Marwick Old Roman Plough (1936) 9:
There is a small piece of red-coloured stone hanging on the plough and fastened thereto by a hair imp or string.

†II. v. 1. To engraft, lit. and fig.Sc. 1729 Belhaven's Vision 6:
Like Compliment is due to those Who imp'd the Thistle on the Rose, And sold our Birth-right to our Foes.Sc. 1754 D. Dickson Christian Love 25:
Well I wot the ransom is sufficient enough, Me to redeem from hell and imp me in thee as thy bough.

2. To tie an imp to (a fishing-line) (Ork., Bwk. 1958).