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.
KELP, n. Also kilp(ie), †kelpie (Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems, Gl.). [kɛlp(i)]
1. Esp. in dim. form, a mischievous young person (Sc. 1818 Sawers; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1941; Slk. 1959).
2. A big, raw-boned youth (ne.Sc. 1959).Ags. 1826 A. Balfour Highland Mary I. 45:
It's some kelpie conneckit either wi' the press-gang or the gaugers.Ags. 1890 Brechin Advertiser (8 July) 3:
An' we, like a wheen glaiket kilpies, as we were, ran here an' there seekin nests.Abd.2 1942:
The fairmer fee'd an eeseless kelp o' a loon that cud hardly pu' a neep.
3. A well-grown young animal (Kcb.4 c.1900).
[A variant of Gilp, Gilpie, q.v.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Kelp n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/kelp>
