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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ORP, v., n. Also urp (Abd. 1825 Jam.), wurp (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). [orp]

I. v. 1. To fret, grumble, complain in a peevish, nagging manner, murmur discontentedly (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Ags. 1964), “to weep with a convulsive pant” (Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) Gl.). Ppl.adj. orpi(e)t, wurpit, fretful, discontented, peevish (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis; Rxb. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.; Sc. 1808 Jam.; Abd. 1915; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); vbl.n. orpin, fretfulness, complaining.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shep. i. ii.:
Like dawted We'an . . . That for some feckless Whim will orp and greet.Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poems I. 87:
The weary herdsman, lang his day, Orps at the ling'ring beam.Ags. 1823 L. Watt Poems 6:
Before I learn, 'twill make me sweat, An' orp an' growl, an' girn and fret.s.Sc. 1857 H. S. Riddell Psalms xxxvii. 1:
Wurpna thysel becaus o' the ill-deedie.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xiv.:
Benjie was an orpiet, peekin, little sinner.Per. 1895 R. Ford Tayside Songs 12:
My heart is ever orpin' on The bonnie banks o' Tay.Ags. 1930:
He orpit and orpit tae be latten jine the Navy. He orpit till he got a bicycle.Ags. 1956 Forfar Dispatch (7 June):
I'm beginnin tae realise the power there is in orpin.

2. To complain from ill-health, to be constantly ailing and sickly, not to thrive, to shrink, shrivel. Ppl.adj. orpit, of taste: causing one to screw up the mouth, tart, bitter; wurpit-lookin, of persons: small and thin, having a shrivelled appearance (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Sc. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (Nov.) 200:
Of changling Imp — he spoke, no care could rear, Which backward seemed to orp, from year to year.Abd. 1921 Swatches o' Hamespun 9:
Foo they tastit sae orpit, he never cwid mak oot.

II. n. A grouse, complaint (Ags. 1964).Ags. 1957 Forfar Dispatch (8 Feb.):
Ilka mornin I orped tae gae and ilka orp got the same answer.