▪ I. risp, n.1 Sc.
(rɪsp)
Also 6 rysp.
[Of obscure origin.]
A species of sedge. Also risp-grass, the reed.
| 1508 Dunbar Gold. Targe 56 Amang the grene rispis and the redis, Arrivit sche. 1513 Douglas æneis vi. vi. 72 Amang the fauch rispis harsk and star. Ibid. x. xii. 54 Amang the buskis rank of rysp and redis. |
| 1823 Hogg in Blackw. Mag. XIV. 190 The hay-rope..was made of risp, a sort of long sword-grass that grows about marshes and the sides of lakes. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm I. 350 Carex cæspitosa, Risp. 1844 Proc. Berw. Nat. Club II. 108 A covering of fen-grasses.., ‘rashers’..and ‘risp-grass’ (Arundo phragmites) from the..tracts around. |
▪ II. risp, n.2 Now dial.
[Of obscure origin. Cf. Norw. dial. rispa a cluster of seed or flowers.]
A bush, branch, or twig; a plant-stem, etc.
| 1590 Tarlton's News Purgat. (1844) 56, I see no sooner a rispe at the house end or a maipole before the doore, but I cry there is a paltry alehouse. 1598 Florio, Boschétto,..also a rispe, a lushe or lime twigge to catch birds. |
| a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Risps, the stems of climbing plants generally. The fruit-bearing stems of raspberries. |
▪ III. risp, n.3 Sc. (and north.).
[f. risp v. Cf. Icel., Norw., and Sw. rispa a scratch, score.]
1. A carpenter's file; a rasp.
| 1511–2 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. IV. 272 For ane saw..for the gunnis.., ane lang rispe,..and ane wisp of Lambart steile. 1623 Naworth Househ. Bks. (Surtees) 207 For 12 spads, 6 loks, 2 hatchits, on rispe. 1835 D. Webster Sc. Rhymes 44 (E.D.D.), His throat's like a risp. 1843 Proc. Berw. Nat. Club II. 52 These balls..are exceedingly globular, although..finished by a large file or risp. 1885 Strathesk More Bits iii. 42 That's liker a ‘risp’ than a razor! |
2. A small serrated bar fixed upright on a house-door, with a ring attached, which was forcibly rubbed up and down the bar to attract the attention of those within.
| 1825 R. Chambers Trad. Edin. (1869) 226 The Lord Justice-clerk's house was provided with a pin or risp, instead of the more modern convenience—a knocker. 1875 J. Grant One of the ‘600’ i, The little thatched cottages, with rusty antique risps on their doors. 1898 A. Balfour To Arms xvii, You will know the house by the risp on the door. |
3. A grating or rasping sound.
| 1850 Struthers Life Poet. Wks. I. p. xiv, The rusty risp of the Corncraik. 1868 G. W. Thornbury Greatheart I. 195 The risp of the copper shovels full of sovereigns. 1897 Crockett Lochinvar I, Cutting them through with a pleasant ‘risp’ of sound. |
▪ IV. risp, v. Now Sc.
Also 5 rispe.
[a. ON. rispa (also mod.Icel., Norw., and Sw.) to scratch, score, etc. Cf. Da. rispe to plough for the first time.]
1. trans. To rub; to grate together; to rasp or file. Also fig.
| c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. xii. 570 First with hondis hem to gidre rispe; So let hem take in sonne a welowynge. |
| 1807–10 Tannahill My Mary Poems (1846) 128 The rye⁓craik rispt his clamorous throat. 1818 W. Muir Poems 14 (E.D.D.), Nor in the stable did he risp His teeth. 1892 Lumsden Sheep-head 17 Frae ilka horn [he] risps aff the ‘rings’ To ca' her young. |
2. intr. To make a harsh, rasping, or grating sound.
| 1805 Scott Last Minstr. Note xlviii, Sutor Watt, ye cannot sew your boots; the heels risp, and the seams rive. 1834 A. Smart Rhymes 110 The craik rins rispin through the corn. 1894 W. D. Latto Tam. Bodkin iv, Sharpin' his gullies, an' garrin' them risp on the glitterin' steel. |