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pip
DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)
Spelling variants:gib, gip, pep
1av. — Fishing, Newfoundland, dated
to gut a fish or squid.
Type: 1. Origin — Though the origins are unknown, it is possible that pip derives from the verbs "gib" or "gip", meaning 'to disembowel (fish)' (OED-3, s.v. "gib"). DNE (s.v. "gip") offers the Irish Gaelic term "giobaim", 'to prick, pluck', as a potential root, which could have travelled to Newfoundland with Irish settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries. Though pip as a verb seems to pertain most often to herring or squid, the noun (see meaning 1b) appears to be used more generally.
See also DNE, s.v. "pip" (v).
See also DNE, s.v. "pip" (v).
Quotations
1834
The Quality number One, of Herrings or other Fish, shall be of the fattest and best Fish; and the quality number Two, of the poorer, thinner, and inferior Fish; both qualities of the said Fish shall be carefully pipped, and cleaned, and cured, and be sweet and wholly free from rust, taint, or damage [...].
1886
When taken ashore the herring are "pipped" -- i.e. the entrails and gills are removed -- salted, and placed in barrels, when they are immediately ready for exportation.
1892
The remaining nine he got after many threats, and when they were opened, the top looked very well indeed, but, under three or four rows, the barrels were filled with half-frozen herring, some rotten, and neither 'pipped' nor salted.
1910
Was it because he gave thousands to a Flett to show the people of Placentia Bay and Bay of Islands how to pip a herring?
1940
The squid are then "pipped," that is, they have their digestive apparatii removed, which process is only a matter of a few seconds to those who have any experience at the work.
1948
We were lucky enough to have a favourable wind to sail home, so we "stuck both sails on 'er" and had our first rest since 1.30 a.m. It then took us another three hours of the morning to "pip" these 1000 squide and hang them out on poles to dry.
1977
Nfld Qtly Dec, p. 37 The [herring] were cleaned, [pipped], and hung up in the roof [for smoking].
1bn. — Fishing, Newfoundland, dated
the entrails of a fish or squid.
Type: 1. Origin — See meaning 1a. Note that the verb predates, in our evidence, the noun by almost a century, which would indicate derivation of the noun from the verb.
See also DNE, s.v. "pip" (n.1).
See also DNE, s.v. "pip" (n.1).
Quotations
1950
Harry, taking it all in, now stuck his thumbs in his shoulder straps. "Nothin' like squid pips," he observed sagely. "You catch codnet fish on the pips."
1976
HOLLETT 1 They would take one pound for the pip out of every each one of the salmon ... that was a racket they had had ... say the salmon weigh ten pound, you only get paid for nine. And if he weigh twenty pound you get paid for nineteen, always doed that.
1979
This puts local fish plants in the position of having to truck their "gibs" (fish guts, offal) to Isle-aux-Morts, way down by Port-aux-Basques.
1986
SAUNDERS 25 And many's the load of stinking flatfish, sculpins and salmon peps I hauled on hot summer days.
2expression — Newfoundland, mostly Education
to skip school, often in the phrases, on the pip or pip off.
The Newfoundland phrases on the pip and pip off are used to describe the action of skipping school (playing truant). Though it is unclear where these phrases originated, it has been suggested that they are modern forms of the slang term "mooch" (see the 1966 quotation). While the vast majority of written sources appear within the context of school, there is some evidence of semantic generalization wherein the phrase merely means 'to skip' (see, for example, the 2011 quotation).
See also DNE, s.v. "pip" (n.2).
See also DNE, s.v. "pip" (n.2).
See: mooch ((1))
This meaning appears to be a post-WWII Newfoundland creation, which attests to the innovatory force in Newfoundland English, which is otherwise better known for its traditional dialects that are in rapid decline.
Quotations
1966
(18) TO PLAY TRUANT. All informants used the verb mooch /muwč/, meaning "to play truant". The expressions skip school and play truant each occurred once. [...] The youngest informant of all gave pip off as a modern equivalent for mooch. However, she stated that she had acquired this term outside Carbonear.
1979
Evening Telegram 12 Nov, p. 6 It was no use to go on the pip [from school].
2001
I'd say the biggest thing is like when your class goes on a field trip of something and sometimes they cost a lot and the poor people don't get to go. The teacher will say that like if you don't have the money then that's okay. just tell me and you don't have to pay or whatever. But nobody does. They just stay home and goes on the pip. Sometimes you got to bring a note though.
2005
"You think we're going to get a half-holiday?" The question was whipped along the wind. "If we don't I'll pip off."
2010
It was 1983 or 1984, I am not sure. I was on a Metrobus, either on the way back from Memorial, or more, likely, on the pip and just riding the bus for something to do.
2011
The Humanities, Arts & Medicine Database was begun in 2005 as a labour of love for an informal group of medical students and faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland interested in what literature had to say about the art and science of healing. For about a year we had been pipping off from other duties to meet on certain afternoons to discuss a short story, a poem, song lyrics (and once, an episode of South Park) - anything, really, that touched on the theme.
References
- DNE
- OED-3