Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1821-1934
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SHIRP, v. To shrink, shrivel. Most freq. as ppl.adj. shirpit, -et, thin, shrunk, lean, emaciated, with sharp drawn features (Ayr. 1825 Jam.; e. and wm.Sc. 1970). [ʃɪrp]Ayr. 1821 Galt Annals xlvii.:
His nose was shirpit and sharp.Sc. 1828 A. Picken Sectarian III. xxv.:
A man's perfectly shirped to naething to please a wheen boys an' tailors.wm.Sc. 1868 Laird of Logan App. 516:
“A shirpit leg”, a leg withered up from disease.Ayr. 1896 H. Johnston Dr Congalton i.:
Yer a decent wee fellow compared wi' yon shirpet body, the factor.wm.Sc. 1934 “Uncle Tom” Mrs. Goudie's Tea-Pairty 20:
Lookin' blue an' shirpet-like and chitterin' wi' cauld.
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"Shirp v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 8 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/shirp>
