Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1832-1852, 1922
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SHILPIE, adj., n. Also shilpy, shelpie. [′ʃɪlpi]
I. adj. 1. Thin, emaciated, not well-grown or filled out, puny, pinched-looking (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.).Gall. 1843 J. Nicholson Tales 117:
White-faced, and every way 'shilpy' in appearance.Sc. 1846 C. Johnstone Edb. Tales II. 208:
Wan and shilpy as she now looks in this reeky unhealthsome toun.Lnk. 1922 T. S. Cairncross Scot at Hame 57:
His chafts were blae and shilpie.
2. Of ears of corn: not well-filled, with small undeveloped grains (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.).Sc. 1832 Quarterly Jnl. Agric. III. 1081:
There will be some shilpy and stunted spots even on the best fields.
3. Of liquor: thin, insipid, tasteless.Bnff. 1852 A. Harper Solitary Hours 48:
Pledge their toast in gear nae shilpy.
4. Of milk that has been kept too long: sourish, tainted, "off" (s.Sc. a.1838 Jam. MSS. X. 285).Slk. 1832 Hogg Altrive Tales 168:
Every splash of the sour shilpy milk.
II. n. A puny spiritless person; "a person trembling always, a sycophant" (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 425).
[A variant formation from Shilpit, q.v.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Shilpie adj., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/shilpie>
