Chiefly Sc. and north. Forms: 4–6 ȝape, 5 ȝop(e, 5–6 ȝaip(e, 6 yaip, 8–9 yap, 9 yaup. [Northern ME. ȝape, with rare southern var. ȝop, representing ʓeáp, alteration of OE. ʓéap YEPE by conversion of the falling into a rising diphthong.]
1. Clever, cunning; shrewd, astute; nimble, active: = YEPE 1.
13[?]. Northern Passion (H.), 1944. Ȝe haue ȝape men him forto ȝeme.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 9019 (Fairf.). Haue he bene be-fore neuer sa ȝape [Cotton yepe] Fra þen I telle him for a nape.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, v. (Johannes), 318. Of þar ydolis þe bischope, Aristodemus, þat wes ȝape, Raisit a gret sedicione In þe puple of þat towne.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 6642. A ȝop knyght & a ȝonge.
a. 1450. Myrc, Par. Pr., 1651. Bvt, confessour, be wys and ȝop, And sende forth þese to þe byschop.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 628. The ȝaip ȝeman to the ȝet is gane.
a. 1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 79. Ane grume,… Ȝaip, and ȝing.
15[?]. Christ’s Kirk, 100 (Bann. MS.). A yaip yung man,… Lowsd of a schot.
1825. Brockett, N. C. Gloss., Yap, apt, quick.
1891. ‘H. Haliburton,’ Ochil Idylls, 40. I’m juist as yap an’ yauld As e’er was youth.
† 2. Eager or ready, esp. to do something. Obs.
c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 602. Ȝaipe, thocht he ȝong was, to faynd his offens.
c. 1500. Rowll’s Cursing, 205 (Bann. MS.). With gaipand mowth richt yaip to swelly.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XII. ii. 88. The byssy knaipis and verlettis of his stabill About thame stud, full ȝaip and seruyabill.
1728. Ramsay, Daft Bargain, 11. [He] seem’d right yap His mealtith quickly up to gawp.
3. Eager or ready to eat, hungry.
1768. Ross, Helenore, I. 20. Right yape she yoked to the pleasing feast.
a. 1774. Fergusson, Rising of Session, Poems (1845), 29. The farmers’ sons, as yap as sparrows.
1832. Carrick, in Whistle-Binkie (Scotch Songs), Ser. I. (1839), 74. Like leeches when yaup.
1871. W. Alexander, Johnny Gibb, ii. Gi’e the bairns a bit piece,… the like o’ them’s aye yap.
