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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TRAIPSE, v., n. Also trap(e)s, treps; trape(e)z, -pees. [treps, ′trepəs, trə′piz]

I. v. 1. intr. As in colloq. and dial. Eng., to tramp wearily or carelessly, to trudge, to lumber or shuffle through mud or dirt, to wander about idly, gad about. Gen. (exc. I.) Sc. Vbl.n. trapeezin, -peesin.Per. 1883 R. Cleland Inchbracken iii.:
Where are you trapezing to, at this hour of the morning?m.Lth. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 13:
A' oor folk wad come trapezin up the brae to their wee bit toom kirkie.Gall. 1896 Crockett Cleg Kelly xv.:
Me trapesin' in a gown like this.Abd. 1931 J. H. Hall Holy Man 67:
She hadn't the time to go traipsing about the place.Ags. 1947 J. B. Salmond Toby Jug ix.:
Stoppin' this trapeezin' aboot the countryside.Bnff. 1969 Dufftown News (5 April) 7:
He gaed traipsin' up the road a bit.Sc. 1999 Herald 28 Aug 13:
As one said: "I'd never have got away with a trip to Dundee, but Herself didn't mind a couple of hours away in the afternoon. If this hadn't been on I would have been traipsing around Argyle Street. ... " Sc. 1999 Herald 4 Sep 16:
This football nut spent 10 years traipsing up and down Britain, from Plymouth to the Highlands, snapping away like a demented Japanese tourist, trying to capture the essence of the beautiful game.

2. tr. To walk or tramp over, to tread (Ags. 1972). Also in Eng. dial.

II. n. 1. A long weary trudge, a tiring walk (Ags., Per., wm.Sc. 1972). Also in Eng. dial.

2. A slovenly untidy woman, a slattern. Also in Eng. dial.Mry. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 25:
His gweedwife hains, she's but a trapes, Nae ower weel-gi'en.