Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1831-1865, 1919-1929
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HAIRP, n., v. Also herp, hirp. Sc. forms of Eng. harp. See P.L.D. §48.1 (2), and Harp. [he:rp, hɛrp]
I. n. As in Eng. Hence hairper, a harper (Lnk. 1923 G. Rae 'Mang Lowland Hills 41).Sc. 1831 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1856) III. 163:
Here's your herp, sir.ne.Sc. 1929 M. W. Simpson Day's End 28:
Forbye that ficherin' an' haiverin' wi' a herp Maun leuk a fooshionless bit job to Bell!
II. v. To play upon the harp; fig. to refer constantly to one subject, to grumble (Abd., Lth., Bwk., Uls. 1956).Rnf. 1865 J. Young Pictures 13:
I hae a richt to hirp an' murn Owre that death-dealin' blast.Rxb. 1919 Hawick Express (7 Feb.) 4:
They'll juist be hairpin' on yae tune.Abd. 1920 C. Murray Country Places 37:
I'll ken 'at she's happy herp-herpin' abeen.
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"Hairp n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hairp>
