Obs. exc. Hist. Forms: 67 liripoope, 6 liripope, lerripoop, leerypoope, liri-, lyri-, leripup, 7 lyripoope, lirry-poop(e, leerepoop, luripup, lirripippes, 9 (liripipy), liripipe. [ad. med.L. liripipium, leropipium, explained in glosses as tippet of a hood, cord, shoe-lace, and inner sole-leather of shoes. No plausible etymology has been found; connection of the latter part with F. pipe PIPE sb. is not unlikely; the form loripipium, which suggests L. lorum strap, is prob. an etymologizing corruption. Cf. F. liripipion (Cotgr.) a graduates hood.
Ménages ludicrous guess, that liripipium is a corruption of cleri ephippium, is repeated seriously in recent Eng. Dicts.]
1. In early academical costume: The long tail of a graduates hood (see quot. 1860).
[135070. Eulogium Hist. (1863), III. 230. Habent etiam liripipia usque talum longa modo fatuorum dilacerata.]
1737. Ozell, Rabelais, I. xviii. I. 213. With his Hair cut round as a Dish, his Liripoop on his Head, after the old fashion.
1860. Fairholt, Costume Eng. (ed. 2), 93. It [the hood] is closed tightly about the head by the liripipe, or long pendent tail of the hood, that hung down the back when the hood was thrown off, and was wound like a bandage about it when placed over the head.
1872. E. L. Cutts, Scenes & Charac., 429. The priest is habited in a robe of purple, with a black cap and a black liripipe attached to it.
¶ A passage of Knighton (c. 1400), well known from being quoted by Du Cange, speaks of certain court ladies as wearing male attire, with liripipes. Hence such mod. examples as the following:
1843. G. P. R. James, Forest Days (1847), 83. As to her dress, she had a purfled liripipy might have suited a court harlot.
b. (See quot.; perh. a mistaken guess.)
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Leripoops, certain old-fashiond Shooes, tipt with Horn, and tyd up to the Knees with Silk-Ribbons, or Silver-Chains.
† 2. Something to be learned and acted or spoken; ones lesson, rôle, or part; chiefly in phrases to know or have (ones) liripoop, to teach (a person) his liripoop. Obs.
1546. Supplic. of Poore Commons (E.E.T.S.), 84. They know their liripope so well that they draw the tayle betwine the legges, and gette them selues streyght to the kennell.
1568. U. Fulwell, Like Will to Like, B iij. I shal teache you bothe your liripup to knowe.
1576. Newton, Lemnies Complex., vii. 58. A wittold Who can his lyrypoope, and gaze full mannerly For birdes nestes in the roofe, while others syckerly Dubbes him an horned knight.
1577. Stanyhurst, Descr. Irel., in Holinshed, II. 35/1. I will teach thee thy lyrripups after an other fashion than to be thus malepertlie cocking and billing with me that am thy gouernour.
1589. Pappe w. Hatchet, 30. I am nor al tales, and riddles, and rimes, and iestes, thats but my Liripoope, if Martin knock the bone he shall find marrow.
1591. Lyly, Sappho, I. iii. 163. Thou maist bee skilled in thy logick, but not in thy leerypoope. Ibid. (1594), Moth, Bomb., I. iii. Theres a girle that knowes her lerripoope.
c. 1600. Day, Begg. Bednall Gr., II. ii. (1881), 35. Ill teach him his leripoop for stealing whilst he hath a day to live again.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Roulet, Qui sçait bien son roulet, That knowes his liripoope, thats thoroughly prouided to speake.
a. 1625. Beaum. & Fl., Wit at Sev. Weap., I. i. So, so, I have my lerrepoop already.
1633. Breton, Packet Lett., 60. I see you haue little to doe that haue so much leasure to play your Luripups.
¶ b. Used for: A shrewd trick.
1605. London Prodigal, IV. i. E 3 b. Well, cha a bin zerued many a sluttish tricke, But such a lerripoope as thick ych was nere a sarued.
† 3. A silly person. Obs.
1621. Fletcher, Pilgrim, II. i. Keepe me this young Lirrypoope within doors.
17[?]. Milles, MS. Devon Gloss. (Halliw.), A liripoop, vel lerripoop, a silly, empty creature; an old dotard.