Obs. exc. dial. Also 4–5 wappe. [Belongs to WAP v.1]
1. A blow, knock, thump.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 6405. Ector for þat od dynt, ournyt in hert, Wode for the wap, as a wild lyon.
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 9338. On smytes his felawe thorow the pap, And he ȝeues him a sori wap.
15[?]. Christ’s Kirk, xi. in Bannatyne MS. (Hunter. Club), 285. He hit him on the wame a wap, It buft lyk ony bleddir.
1810. Splendid Follies, II. 138. I had such a plumper off the old mare the first time I went out! What a wap of the head I had surely.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xxv. A wap wi’ a corner-stane o’ Wolf’s Crag wad defy the doctor!
1823. ‘J. Bee,’ Dict. Turf, Wap, a species of slap, resounding, as if imparted by a wet dishclout.
1914. C. C. Murray, in Aberd. Univ. Rev., Nov., 45. An’ fat was a wap wi’ a spainyie or tag To hands that were hard as a steen.
b. At a wap: at one blow, suddenly.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 499. Þou … trauayledez neuer to tent hit þe tyme of an howre, Bot at a wap hit here wax & away at an oþer.
a. 1400. Wars Alex., 3040. Alexander allþire first on þaim all he settis And aithire ward at a wapp wiȝtly inIoynes. Ibid., 4142, 5318.
c. 1400. Sege Jerus., 515. (E. E. T. S.). & wel wenen at a wap alle þe wo[r]ld quelle.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xxiv. 314. As I wold at a wap wyn all at ones.
2. Sc. A sudden storm (of snow).
1818. Scott, Lett., in Lockhart (1837), IV. vi. 204. You will find it [a plaid] a good bosom friend … when your country avocations lead you to face a dry wap of snow.
3. A shake, flap; a sweeping or tossing movement.
a. 1663. D. Dickson, Serm., Pract. Writ. (1845), I. 99. Preaching is like the wap of a fan, to tell the one that they are chaff [etc.].
c. 1800. ‘Leesome Brand,’ vii. in Child, Ballads, I. 182. Ye do you to my father’s stable, where steeds do stand baith wight and able…. Strike ane o them upo the back, The swiftest will gie his head a wap.
1820. Scott, Abbot, xvii. Pomp and pleasure pass away as speedily as the wap of a falcon’s wing.
4. A pugilistic fight. Also, a quarrel. Sc.
1887. P. M’Neill, Blawearie, 24. It not unfrequently happened, if a well matched pair or two met and had not had their ‘wap’ out, both pits would be thrown idle on the Monday that all who wished might see the affair wound up.
1887. Service, Life Duguid, xi. 68. It happened ae day that a neebor woman … and Bessie had a terr’ble wap.
