A Scottish and Northern English dialect word meaning to tell tales, gossip, tattle, or inform on someone.
From Middle English and Old English origins, possibly related to 'clip' or 'clepe' (to call or name), evolving into a dialect term for talking or gossiping. The exact etymology is debated among scholars.
This word beautifully shows how regional dialects preserve older English words—'clype' is still used in Scotland and northern regions, but it's basically disappeared from standard English, making it a living fossil of the language.
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