Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
JAPPLE, v., n. Also jappel; (d)japl, (d)japel (Jak.). [dʒɑpl, tʃ-]
I. v. 1. To stamp with the feet in water, to splash (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Sh., Cai., Ags. 1959).Sh. 1932 J. Saxby Trad. Lore 116:
The bairns were “plytsin and japplin” in the burn.
2. To wash clothes by stamping on them in a tub, pool, burn or loch (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., ‡Sh. 1959).
3. To gurgle, to squelch, of water in the shoes (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); hence, of the feet: to be soaking (Ib., 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 120).Sh. 1897 Shetland News (23 Oct.):
A'll hae ta get a pair o' new shün. My feet is juist japplin' noo ivery day.
II. n. 1. Slush, mire, a liquid mess (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1959).Sh. 1899 Shetland News (11 Nov.):
A'm gien ower me büit i' dis japple o' gutter.
2. A choppy surface of water (Ags. 1959).
[Prob. mainly onomat. but cf. also Jaup, of which this may be a freq. form, and Jabble.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Japple v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 25 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/japple>
