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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RIPPET, n., v. Also ¶rippeth, rippit, -at; repet (Sc. 1887 Jam.); ruppit; rippart (Gregor). [′rɪpət]

I. n. 1. A noisy disturbance, an uproar, an excited clamour, the sound of boisterous revelry (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis, 1808 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 229; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; ne.Sc., Peb., wm.Sc. 1968).Abd. 1729 Third S.C. Misc. 128:
David asked what houre it was, we made a devilish rippeth.Sc. 1757 Smollett Reprisal i. ii.:
Whist, what's a' that rippet?Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail xlvii.:
Making a' this rippet for the cheatrie instruments o' pen and ink.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 120:
Up-sprang, wi' riot and wi' rippat, A dozen angry men to grip it.Dmf. 1874 R. Wanlock Moorland Rhymes 209:
I heard the muirhens in the dawin', And siccan a rippet they raised!Sc. 1888 C. Mackay Dict. Lowland Sc. 167:
I have often been told by my mother, when a boy, to be “quate and no breed sic a rippet”.

2. A row, a noisy quarrel (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 229; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; ne. and wm.Sc. 1968).Dmb. 1846 W. Cross Disruption xxix.:
He cannot be perswaded to risk a rippet with him.Sc. 1872 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. 213–4:
“Becky and I had a rippet, for which I desire to be humble”. . . . “My husband and I sometimes too have “rippets”, but catch him if he's ever humble”.ne.Sc. 1887 G. G. Green Gordonhaven 23:
Many a rippet she had with him on this account.Sc. 1897 C. Grey Misanthrope's Heir xxiii.:
It's no ae ruppit we hae thegither, afore he'll gie me siller for a new goon.Ayr. 1913 J. Service Memorables 67:
Some dreidfu' nicht rippit there had been amang the cairters.Lth. 1925 C. P. Slater Marget Pow 204:
There was the maist awfu' rippat! The way they argle-bargled and scandaleezed one another was fearsome.Abd. 1958 Huntly Express (19 Dec.) 6:
For fear ony rippits brook oot at the dance.

¶3. A quarrelsome person, a waspish, voluble person (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 410).

II. v. 1. To create a row or disturbance, to quarrel vociferously (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 229). Vbl.n. rippet(t)in, a noisy disturbance (wm.Sc. 1880 Jam.).Rnf. 1825 Gaberlunzie 69:
Rippetting and rampaging like an evil spirit.Ayr. 1832 Galt Stanley Buxton II. xxiii.:
To go for to disgrace your father — my brother — and in a manse! — No wonder ye made such a rippetting!Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr. Duguid 67:
Rippiting and gelling with her neebors.

2. To indulge in noisy, uproarious reveiry. Ppl.adj. rippitin.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr. Duguid 8:
When the river was frozen, what roarin' rippitin' fun there was on the dam.