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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JESP, n., v. Also jisp; jasp (Fif., Rxb.). Cf. Chisp. [dʒɛsp, dʒɪsp, dʒɑsp]

I. n. 1. A small gap or opening (Sc. 1787 J. Elphinston Propriety II. 185), a flaw or crack in a material, esp. a gap or fault in the weave of a fabric, a broken thread (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 254; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Fif., e.Lth., Bwk., Rxb. 1959). Freq. in phr. a broken jesp. In 1836 quot. the word has been wrongly taken to mean the fabric or piece of cloth itself.Sc. 1807 J. Duncan Weaving I. 37:
A second fault in cloth is known, among weavers, by the name of a jisp.s.Sc. 1836 Wilson's Tales of the Borders II. 166:
Walkin owre slip-shod, wi' no a hale jesp aboot him.Kcb.⁴ 1900:
When the borrowed frying-pan came back crackit, the owner said “There was na' a jisp in it whan ye gat it.”Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 12:
There's no a broken jasp in this coat o meine, an A've wurrn't this twae eer.

2. A stain, speck, blemish, esp. on cloth (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 284; Slk. 1825 Jam.; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai). Also in n.Eng. dial.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 183, obsol.:
He hasna a jesp o' dirt on 'im.

II. v. To cause threads to be pulled and imperfect fabric to be woven.Sc. 1807 J. Duncan Weaving I. 37:
If either the yarn beam or cloth beam are not turned very true, jisping will be unavoidable.