hirple

English

Etymology

A word of unknown origin, first recorded in Scots sources from the late fifteenth century; but probably from Old Norse herpast (“to suffer from cramp”) the middle voice verb. Compare the Icelandic herpa (“to contract, to draw together”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈhɜː.pəl/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)pəl

Verb

hirple (third-person singular simple present hirples, present participle hirpling, simple past and past participle hirpled)

1. (intransitive, Scotland, northern UK) To walk with a limp, to drag a limb, to walk lamely; to move with a gait somewhere between walking and crawling.
   • 1922, John Buchan, Huntingtower:

     Get you on that bicycle and hurry on, and I'll hirple after you the best I can.

   • 2015, Kate Atkinson, A God in Ruins, →ISBN, page 136:

     A woman hirpled along the corridor towards them with the aid of a walking frame.

   • 2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 513:

     Around lunchtime he hirpled down the corridor to the Gents.

Synonyms

• hobble

Scots

Etymology

Probably from Old Norse.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɪrpl/

Verb

hirple (third-person singular simple present hirples, present participle hirplin, simple past hirpelt, past participle hirpelt)

1. to limp, hobble
2. to cripple or hamper some venture or project

Noun

hirple (plural hirples)

1. a limp

Derived terms

• hirplock
• hirpler