Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡RISP, n.² Also resp; erron. rasp. Dim. rispie (Sc. 1824 J. Wilson Tournay viii.).

1. A long, coarse grass or sedge found growing on boggy land, variously defined as the tufted bog sedge, Carex cæspitosa, or the common reed, Phragmites communis (Rxb. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl., resp; Sc. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm I. 350; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Comb. risp-grass, id.Slk. 1824 Hogg Confessions (1874) 531:
Risp, a sort of long sword-grass that grows about marshes and the sides of lakes.Sth. 1831 Brit. Husbandry (Burke 1840) III. 67:
The sheep find, on the peat of damper and deeper quality . . . rasp grass (carex cæspitosa).Bwk. 1844 Proc. Bwk. Nat. Club II. 108:
A covering of fen-grasses, “rashers” and “risp-grass” (Arundo phragmites) from the tracts around.s.Sc. 1926 H. McDiarmid Penny Wheep 25:
As white's the blossom on the rise That 'bune the green risp i' the fu' mune Cannily blaws.Abd. c.1930:
That risp girse is nesty stuff for cuttin yer fingers an ye rug it throwe them the vrang gate.

2. A single stalk of grass, gen. in neg. contexts, phs. confused with Rip (Cai. 1968).Cai. 1904 E.D.D.:
'E coo hisna a risp at her head.