skelp

1 of 5

verb

ˈskelp

skelped

-pt

also skelpit

-pə̇t

; skelped also skelpit; skelping; skelps

transitive verb

1

dialectal, British : strike, slap, beat

2

dialectal, British : to drive with blows

3

dialectal, British : to perform or accomplish in a brisk and lively fashion

intransitive verb

: to walk in a brisk and lively manner : hustle

skelp

2 of 5

noun (1)

"

plural -s

dialectal, British

: a smart blow

especially : a slap with the palm of the hand

skelp

3 of 5

noun (2)

"

plural -s

: a strip of metal (such as wrought iron, steel) for making a hollow cylindrical piece or tube by bending it round longitudinally or helically and welding

skelp

4 of 5

transitive verb

"

-ed/-ing/-s

1

: to form (as a plate or bar of iron) into a skelp by rolling

2

: to bend round (a skelp) in tube making

skelp

5 of 5

"

dialectal variant of scalp

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English skelpen, probably of imitative origin

Noun (1)

Middle English, from skelpen, verb

Noun (2)

perhaps from Scottish Gaelic sgealb splinter, strip of wood

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