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: 1872-1961
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SKIPPIE, n. Also skibbie, -y, skeby; and with alternative dim. ending skippack, skeepack, reduced form skeep (Rs.). The game of tig (Sth. 1897 E. W. B. Nicholson Golspie 120, skeby; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; Cai. (skibbie), Rs., Inv. (skeepack) 1970); the tap given in the game. Also in combs. skippie-lickie, skibbi-, id. (Cai. 1970), ¶skip-stroke. [′skɪpe, ′skɪbi; ′skipək]Cai. 1872 M. MacLennan Peasant Life 29:
"See, man, there's skippie for ye! Ketch me gin ye can, lad!" . . . Crying "Parley, lad!" as he came to her side, and would have returned the "skip-stroke".Rs. 1884 Crofters' Comm. Evidence II. 1010:
Treated as a boy plays at "skippack," — just a slap, and be done with it.Inv. c.1910 Football Times (28 Aug. 1948):
Elsewhere the boys would be busy with "booalla" (shinty), "skeepack", or "durbs."Inv. 1957 Bulletin (8 Jan.) 6:
The Musketeers playing skippie-lickie over the burn.Cai. 1961 "Castlegreen" ′ Tatties an' Herreen' 26:
G'wey oot an' play at skibbilickie!
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"Skippie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Aug 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/skippie>
