Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1754-1796, 1881-1963
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STILP, v., n. Also stulp. [stɪlp, stʌlp]
I. v. 1. To walk with long stiff steps, to stump about, stalk (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff., Abd., Kcd., Ags. 1971). Deriv. stilper, one who walks thus, a long-legged person (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 182).Abd. 1754 R. Forbes Journal 27:
I did na' care to stilp upo' my queets, for fear o' the briganers.Kcd. 1796 J. Burness Thrummy Cap (1887) 15:
Thrummy, stilping in his sark, Glaumpin' the gate back to his bed.Per. 1881 R. Ford Hum. Sc. Readings 45:
Stilpin' here an' there through the shop.Ags. 1914 I. Bell County Clash 6:
The very wey he stilps aboot when he's layin't aff.Abd. 1963 J. C. Milne Poems 124:
Till Death, och ay, gaed stilpin by.
2. To walk on crutches (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.) or on stilts (see quot. under II.). Deriv. stilpers, pl., crutches; stilts for crossing a stream dry-shod (Jam.).
II. n. A stilt.Abd. 1892 Innes Review VII. ii. 97:
Meg Ritchie had jest stulpit ower the watter o' Gairn, cairryin' the stulps.
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"Stilp v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/stilp>
