Dictionary of the Scots Language
Dictionar o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

from 1976 supplement

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology Cite this entry

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.]