hempy, hempie, a. and n.
(ˈhɛmpɪ)
[f. hemp n. + -y.]
A. adj.
1. Made of, like, or of the nature of hemp; hempen; having or producing hemp.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 235/2 Hempyne, or hempy.., canabeus. 1572 J. Jones Bathes Buckstone 10 b, Such [euill ayre] as commeth of Hempy grounds, as in Holland. 1611 Cotgr., Chanureux, Hempen, Hempie, of Hempe. c 1645 Howell Lett. ii. 54 'Twixt the rind and the Tree there is a Cotton, or hempy kind of Moss, which they wear for their Clothing. |
2. Sc. and north. Worthy of the hangman's halter; usually jocular, meaning merely Mischievous, giddy, often in scrapes.
| 1816 Scott Old Mort. xlii, I was a daft hempie lassie then, and little thought what was to come o't. 1825 Brockett, Hempy, mischievous—having the qualities likely to suffer by cat o' nine tails, or by the halter. Applied jocularly to giddy young people of both sexes. 1885 J. Runciman Skippers & Sh. 110 Noted as the most ‘hempy’ boy in the..district. |
B. n. One who deserves to be hanged; one for whom hemp grows. Usually jocular: A mischievous giddy boy or girl.
| 1718 Ramsay Christ's Kirk iii. xviii, He had gather'd seven or aught Wild hempies stout and strang. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. l, ‘Where did you get the book, ye little hempie?’ said Mrs. Butler. 1864 J. Hardy in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club 181 This hempie of a bird has taken to colonising. 1893 Crockett Stickit Minister (1894) 259 She had been a big-boned ‘hempie’ at the Kirkland School. |