verb. (old).—To copulate. Formerly (CHAUCER) = to trifle; to scoff. For synonyms, see GREENS and RIDE.

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  c. 1520.  Hickscorner [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, i. 171].

          Imagination.  Nay, brother, lay hand on him soon;
For he JAPED my wife, and made me cuckold.

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  1530.  PALSGRAVE, Langue Francoyse. I IAPE a wench, i.e., fout and ie bistocque, it is better to IAPE a wench than to do worse.

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  1540.  LYNDSAY, Ane Pleasant Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis, in Works (1879), ii. 23, line 324.

        There is ane hundreth heir sittand by,
That luiffis GEAPING als weill as I.

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  c. 1550.  A. SCOTT, Ane ballat maid to þe scorne of Wantoun Wemen.

        Sum gois so gymp in gyiss,
Or sche war kissit plane,
Scho[’d] leir be JAPIT thryiss.

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  1568.  Bannatyne MSS. [Hunterian Club Reprint, vi. 764]. ‘The Vse of Court.’ His wyfe JAIPPIT, his siller spendit.

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  1572.  GASCOIGNE, Councell … to Master … Withipoll (CHALMERS, ii. 533). First, in thy journey JAPE not overmuch.

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  1589.  PUTTENHAM, Art of English Poesie, B. iii, ch. 22. Such wordes as may be drawen to a foule and unshamefast sense, as one that should say to a young woman, I pray you let me JAPE with you, which is indeed no more than let me sport with you…. For it may be taken in another perverser sense.

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  1598.  FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Fottere, to JAIPE, etc.

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  1600.  Grim, the Collier of Croydon, Prologue [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, viii. 389].

        Heard you not never how an actor’s wife,
Whom he (fond fool) lov’d dearly as his life,
Coming in’s way did chance to get a JAPE.

10

  1602.  SPEGHT, in Wks. of CHAUCER. ‘Hard Words of Chaucer Explained,’ s.v.

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