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 8 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/shilpie>
