Clype is a word which is often used by schoolchildren in quite a menacing way. At other times it’s used teasingly.
If you are accused of being a clype (it rhymes with type) it simply means that you’re being called a tell-tale, a grass, a sneak, that most despised of things – an informer.
At primary school every class seemed to have one of them, always a goody goody girl for some reason, who would shout: You’re aa-ported. Why did they always say aa-ported, when what they meant was – I’m going to report you to the teacher, for whatever small misdemeanour you had committed.
I well remember being aa-ported to the teacher for having my eyes open during the Lord’s Prayer!! Thankfully, Mrs Wilson told Jackie that she must have had her eyes open too.
Jackie of course was a clype, and we all told her so. No other words are required, just that one wee word which you can put plenty of feeling into as you say it.
Enhancing my vocabulary once more! Thank you kindly.
Thought of you at lunch – reading my July Vanity Fair and came across an article about Vetrianno! Interesting fellow indeed.
Pearl,
Hmm, yes he’s interesting, and he usually looks like he needs a good wash!
It was David, when I was at school. He seemed to think that he was immune to instructions, and he always “aaported” everyone else for something or other! Quite the little clype!
Evee,
I bet David hasn’t changed, the rules will still be only for other people. He has probably retired from the Lothian police by now!
Oh my goodness, I can still hear the whining little voice, “Oi’m telleen’ on you”…
Classic re ‘eyes open’!
Valerie,
They obviously get everywhere – just different accents!
Do Scottish mothers say, “No one likes a clype” ?
Anbolyn,
Yes they (not me) do say that, but as a youngest I always thought that that just made it constant carte blanche for the older siblings to ‘do you’ (me) in!