hempie

plural hempies · alternative hemp · alternative hempy

1. Northern EnglandScotlandobsoleteA criminal; someone who deserves to be, or is likely to be, hanged.

   Synonyms: criminal and Thesaurus:gallows bird

2. Northern EnglandScotlandobsoleteA rogue.

   'Ha, ha, Patie lad!' quo Bessie Elliot, a free-spoken Liddesdale hempy, 'there's a wife com'd for ye the night, Patie lad.'

   1846, Moses Aaron Richardson, The Borderer's Table Book, volume 7, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne: Printed for the author, page 137

   Synonyms: troublemaker

3. Northern EnglandScotlandobsoleteA wild, romping girl.

   “Ay, ay,” answered Rob, “she's under lawfu' authority now; and full time, for she was a daft hempie[…]”

   1817, Sir Walter Scott, Rob Roy

comparative more hempie · superlative most hempie · alternative hemp · alternative hempy

1. Northern EnglandScotlandobsoleteDeserving of being hanged.

   Synonyms: hangworthy

2. Northern EnglandScotlandobsoleteWild; riotous; mischievous.

   The forst one's just as prood as us, / Te see his bonny mate, / An' if thor spared te grow up lads, / They'll fettle real forst-rate; / But if like hempy lads they fight, / We'll heh to keep them doon, / An’ try te myek them byeth as gud / As ony in the toon.

   1890, Joseph Wilson, “Wor Canny Second-Born!”, in Tyneside Songs and Drolleries, page 255