Dictionary of the Scots Language
Dictionar o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

from 1976 supplement

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NIPEN TEN, n. The name of a marbles game. Ayr. 1895 J. Walker Old Kilmarnock 66:
At marbles we played at “bun'” and “loose” and at “nipen ten”.

[The nature of the game and the orig. of the expression are unascertained.]