subs. (old).—A hangman’s rope: also HEMPEN (ST. JOHNSTONE’S or TYBURN) TIPPET. See HEMP (with all derivatives) and HORSE-COLLAR.
1586. MARLOWE, The Jew of Malta, iv. 4. When the hangman had put on his HEMPEN TIPPET, he made such haste to his prayers as if he had had another cure to serue.
1816. SCOTT, Old Mortality, vii. Then it will be my lot … to be sent to Heaven wi’ a SAINT JOHNSTONE’S TIPPET about my hause.
1899. Century Dictionary, s.v. TIPPET. ST. JOHNSTONE’S TIPPET … said to be named from the wearing of halters about their necks by Protestant insurgents of Perth (formerly also called St. John’s Town, St. Johnston) in the beginning of the Reformation, in token of their willingness to be hanged if they flinched.
TO TURN TIPPET, verb. phr. (old).—To change right-about: cf. TURNCOAT and TURN CAT-IN-THE-PAN.
1562. HEYWOOD, Epigrams [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 561. Amongst the romance words are] TURN HIS TIPPET.
c. 1600. The Merry Devil of Edmonton [TEMPLE], iii. 2. 137. Well, to be brief, the nun will soon at night TURN TIPPET; if I can but devise to quit her cleanly of the nunnery, she is my own.
1609. JONSON, The Case is Altered, iii. 3.
| A saint! | |
| Another Bridget! one that for a face | |
| Would put down Vesta; … | |
| You TO TURN TIPPET! |
1609. FLETCHER, Monsieur Thomas, ii. 2.
| You are so learnèd in your writs! You stand now | |
| As if you had worried sheep. You must TURN TIPPET, | |
| And suddenly, and truly, and discreetly, | |
| Put on the shape of order and humanity. |
