or leripup, leripoop, luripup, subs. (old).—Originally an academical scarf or hood. Hence, (1) knowledge or acuteness; (2) a man or woman of parts; (3) a swindle, jest, or trick; and (4) a cheat, buffon, or jester. Thence, TO PLAY ONE’S LIRIPUPS = (1) to undergo examination for a degree; and (2) to play the fool (from the contempt into which scholastic subtleties had in the end to fall). Also as verb = to deceive, to cheat.
1591. J. LYLY, Sapho and Phaon, iii. 1. Cryti. Thou maist bee skilled in thy logick, but not in thy LERYPOOPE.
1593. G. HARVEY, Pierce’s Supererogation [GROSART (1885), ii. 78]. Nashe is learned, & knoweth his LERIPUP. Ibid., 278. Be no niggard of thy sweet accents, & heauenly harmony; but reach the antike muses their right LERIPUP.
1594. J. LYLY, Mother Bombie, i. 3. There’s a girl that knows her LERRIPOOP.
1594. NASHE, The Unfortunate Traveller [GROSART (1885), v. 159]. Heere was a wily wench had her LIRIPOOP without book.
1603–37. BRETON, A Packet of Letters [GROSART (1879), ii. h. 34, 10, line 4]. I see you haue little to doe that haue so much leisure TO PLAY YOUR LURIPUPS.
1605. The London Prodigal, iv. 1.
| Oli. Well cha’ a bin zerved many a sluttish trick, | |
| But such a LERRIPOOP as thick ych was ne’er sarved. |
1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Qui sçait bien son roulet. That knowes his LIRIPOOPE, thats throughly provided to speake.
1621. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, The Pilgrim, ii. 1. Keep me this young LIRRYPOOP within doors.
1719. D’URFEY, Wit and Mirth; or Pills to Purge Melancholy, i. 186.
| And all the day long, | |
| This, this was her song, | |
| Was ever Maiden so LERICOMPOOP’D. |
