▪ I. † shelp1
[app. representing OE. scylp glossing ‘scopulus’, ‘murex’. Cf. scalp n.2]
A sandbank in a river or the sea; = shelf n.2
| 1430–31 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 381/2 Il y ad si graunde noumbre des schelpes deinz le Ryver de Ley. c 1500 Lib. Rub. fo. 114 b in Wells MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) 145 The water was so lowe and so many shelpes and bayes in the ryver. 1535–6 Act 27 Hen. VIII, c. 18 §3 Sande gravell or any other rubbysshe..lieng..uppon any Shelppe or Shelppes within the said ryver of Thamyse. 1538 Elyot Dict., Syrtes, quycke sandes or shelpes [1545 shelfes] in the water made by the dryfte of sande or grauel. 1630 Lex Londinensis (1680) 210 At Woolwich shelp two [trinckes], and no more;..At Dagnam shelp six. |
▪ II. † shelp2 Obs.
The ribbon-fish.
| 1562 Withals Dict. 8 b/1 A shelpe, tenia. 1570 Levins Manip. 58/34 A shelp, fish, tenia. |