Leap v.

Pa. t. and pa. pple. leaped, leapt. Forms: 1 hléapan, 3 leapen, læpen(n, leoppe, lupe, 4 luppe(n, lippe, lijpe, lip, leope, Kent. lheape, 3–4 lepen, 3–6 lepe, 5–6 Sc. and north. dial. leip, 5–7 leppe, 3, 6–7 leape, 6– leap. Pa. t. 1 hléop, pl. hlupon, (subj. hlíepe), 3 leope(n, leop(pe, le(o)up, lupe, 3–5 lep(pe, leep, (4, 7 leepe), 4–5 lepe, 4 lepp, lhip, lhiep, lip, loop, lup, 4–7 lope, 4, 6 Sc., 9 lape, 5 lappe, laup, 6 leap, lapp, loppe, 3–9 Sc. and north. dial. lap; weak forms 3 leopt, 3–5 lepte, 4 leepte, lepide, lippid(e, lippte, lupten, 4–6 leped, 6 leapte, 5–7 lept, 6– leapt, leaped. Pa. pple. 1 hléapen, 3 ileope, 3–6 lopen, 5 lopon, 6 Sc. loppin, 6, 8 Sc. loppen, 9 Sc. luppen; weak forms 4 lippid, 6–7 lept, 6– leapt, 7– leaped. [A Com. Teut. reduplicating str. vb., which has become weak in Eng.: OE. hléapan (pa. t. hléop, pl. hlupon, pa. pple. -hléapen) corresponds to OFris. (h)lâpa, hliapa, pa. t. hlêp, pa. pple. hlêpen, OS. (a-)hlôpan, pa. t. pl. -hliopun (MDu. lôpen, Du. loopen, pa. t. liep, pa. pple. geloopen), OHG. (h)lauffan, loufan (MHG. loufen, mod.G. laufen, pa. t. lief, pa. pple. gelaufen), ON. hlaupa, pa. t. hlióp, pl. hliópom, hlupom, pa. pple. hlaupenn (Sw. löpa, Da. løbe), Goth. (us)-hlaupan:—OTeut. *hlaupan. The equivalent LOUP, from ON. hlaupa, has in Sc. and some northern dialects supplanted the native form in the present stem.

  No certain affinities outside Teut. are known: some scholars have suggested connection with Lith. klûpoti to remain kneeling, klùpti to fall on one’s knees, to stumble; or with Gr. κόλυμβος diver.]

  † 1.  intr. To run; to go hastily or with violence; to rush, to ‘throw oneself.’ Also with advs., as forth, out. (In OE., út hléapan = to escape.) Obs.

Beowulf (Z.), 865. Hwilum heaþo-rofe hleapan leton on ʓe-flit faran fealwe mearas.

11[?].  O. E. Chron., an. 1072 (MS. D.). Her Eadwine eorl & Morkere eorl hlupon ut & mislice ferdon on wuda. Ibid., an. 1087 (MS. Laud). Roger het an of heom se hleop into þam castele æt Nordwic.

c. 1205.  Lay., 24847. Ȝif Arður ne leope to swulc hit a liun weore and þas word seide.

a. 1225.  Juliana, 38. Þis eadie meiden … leop to ant lahte him.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2726. And to hem ward swide he lep.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8170. Vor hor hors were al astoned … ac some stode … stille & some lepte her & þer.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 4541. Þe boteler to þe prisun lep.

c. 1330.  Assump. Virg. (B. M. MS.), 613. To þe beere he cam lepand.

1340.  Ayenb., 240. Þo lhip op þe mayster and him keste.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. Prol. 94. Erchedekenes and Deknes … Beon lopen to londun.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, X. 242. Thai that neir enbuschit war Lap out.

1528.  St. Papers Hen. VIII., IV. 493. The freindes of the said traiter are loppen to hym into Scotlaunde.

c. 1560.  Durham Depos. (Surtees), 65. He hard a sturr in the streit, and therwith lap furth.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., II. 163. The Scottis couragious … leipis to straikis.

1644.  R. Baillie, Lett. (1841), II. 217. Coll. Macgillespick’s son, who, with two thousand five hundred runagates from Ireland, are loppen over here.

1716.  Ramsay, On Wit, 15. Hameward with clever strides he lap.

  † b.  To break out in an illegal or disorderly way.

a. 1670.  J. Scot, Staggering State (1754), 153. He … grieving that he had not that power in court that he thought his birth and place deserved, leapt out, and made sundry out-reds against the king.

  2.  To rise with both (or all four) feet suddenly from the ground or other standing-place, alighting in some other position; to jump, spring. Often with advs., as aside, down, in, out. Also with cognate object.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past., xxxiii. 214. Ðæt hie ne hliepen unwillende on ðæt scorene clif unðeawa.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 11792. Þurrh þatt te laþe gast himm badd Dun læpenn off þe temmple.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1829. His hors for fere gan to turne, And leepe aside, and foundred as he leepe.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 21. He hadde lepte in to the ryver and drowned hym-self.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, X. x. 119. The tothir fey bruthir … Lap fra the cart.

1530.  Lyndesay, Test. Papyngo, 552. The ledder schuke, he lape, and gat one fall.

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot. (1858), III. 447. He suld haif gart him leip Thre lowpis in ane.

1612.  Drayton, Poly-olb., II. 322. Cauerns in the earth, so darke and wondrous deepe As that, into whose mouth the desperate Roman leepe.

1688.  Boyle, Final Causes Nat. Things, II. 53. He [the frog] must … shut his eyes, and so leap blindly.

1707.  Lond. Gaz., No. 4382/4. Stolen … a bright bay Gelding,… walks, trots, gallops, and leaps.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 233, ¶ 2. This Account … only mentioning the Name of the Lover who leaped, the Person he leaped for.

1725.  Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., I. i. I … lap in o’er the dyke.

1863.  Geo. Eliot, Romola, xx. He leaped up the stone steps by two at a time.

1884.  Lady Verney, in Contemp. Rev., Oct., 547. To save himself by leaping from the car.

  Proverb.  1546.  J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 6. Ye may learne … to looke or ye leape.

c. 1570.  Marr. Wit & Science, IV. i. C iv. But he that leapes before he loke, good sonne, Maye leape in the myre.

  b.  Phrase. (Ready) to leap out of † oneself or one’s skin (as an expression of delight or eagerness).

1611.  Shaks., Wint. T., V. ii. 54. Our King being ready to leape out of himselfe, for ioy of his found Daughter.

1629.  Massinger, Picture, III. i. Tho’ a poor snake, I will leap Out of my skin for joy.

1776.  Foote, Capuchin, I. Wks. 1799, II. 388. I should have been ready to leap out of my skin at the sight of a countryman in foreign parts.

  c.  To spring to one’s seat upon a horse, into the saddle. Often with up. Also, † to leap on, † to leap to horse.

c. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., II. x. [xiii.] (1890), 138. [He] hleop on þæs cyninges stedan.

c. 1205.  Lay., 9284. Leoup he an his stede.

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 41/232. And lupe þou up bi-hynde me.

c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 5278 (Kölbing). Opon her hors þai lopen swiþe.

13[?].  Sir Beues, 1945 (MS. A.). Into þe sadel a lippte.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, II. 28. The bruss lap on, and thiddir raid.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 2262. Generydes leppe vppe vppon his stede.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 236. Thei dide his comaundement, and lepe to horse.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lxii. 216. Huon & his company lept on theyr horses.

1600.  Disc. Gowrie Conspir., in Moyses, Mem. Scot. (1755), 265. Before his majestie … could leape on horseback.

a. 1670.  Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (Bannatyne Club), I. 94. Allwayes, he lap on in Aberdein, about 60 horse with swords, pistolls, [etc.].

1841.  Elphinstone, Hist. Ind., II. ii. 137. Humáyun had only time to leap on horseback.

  d.  Of a fish: To spring from the water.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 203. A greet fische leep into þe schip.

1423.  James I., Kingis Q., cliii. Lytill fischis … with bakkis blewe as lede, Lap and playit.

1536.  Bellenden, Cron. Scot., Descr. Alb., xi. (1541), C ij b. Als sone as thir salmond cumis to ye lyn, thay leip.

1813.  Hogg, Queen’s Wake, 71. The troutis laup out of the Leven Louch.

1867.  F. Francis, Angling, ix. (1880), 334. Whenever a salmon leaps you must keep a slack line.

  e.  To leap at: to make a spring at in order to seize; fig. to exhibit eagerness for. Cf. to jump at. So † to leap to be or do something.

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. xiii. 51. If Cæsar please, our Master Will leape to be his Friend.

1632.  Massinger, Maid of Hon., III. i. My too curious appetite … Would leap at a mouldy crust.

1653.  Walton, Angler, 214. I could … see fishes leaping at Flies of several shapes and colours.

1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl., I. i. But observe this Dogg; I hold him out Meat…: ’Tis held indeed higher than he can Leap; and yet, if he Leap not at it, I do not give it him.

1671.  L. Addison, W. Barbary, 20. Large Incoms, the baite disloyalty still leaps at.

1824.  Scott, Redgauntlet, Let. xiii. Saunders lap at the proposition.

  3.  To spring sportively up and down; to jump (with joy, mirth, etc.); to dance, skip.

c. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., V. iii. (1891), 390. He up astode & áa wæs gongende & hleapende & Dryhten heriʓende.

c. 1205.  Lay., 24697. Summe heo gunnen lepen.

1340.  Ayenb., 156. Þe asse … beginþ to lheape and yernþ to-yens him.

1382.  Wyclif, Matt. xi. 17. We han sungen to ȝou, and ȝe han nat lippid.

1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXXIII. (Percy Soc.), 163. My greyhoundes leped and my stede did sterte.

1583.  Babington, Commandm., iv. (1637), 39. Asking us if that were to hallow the Sabbath … to swill & to bibble, to leape, to wallow & tumble in bed.

1611.  Bible, Luke vi. 23. Reioice yee in that day, and leape for ioy.

1792.  A. Wilson, Watty Meg. Watty lap, and danced, and kiss’d her.

1856.  Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh, I. (1857), 41. And ankle-deep in English grass I leaped, And clapped my hands.

1896.  A. E. Housman, Shropshire Lad, x. And brutes in field and brutes in pen Leap that the world goes round again.

  4.  To spring suddenly to or upon one’s feet; to rise with a bound from a sitting or recumbent position. Often with up. † To leap afoot: to spring to the ground from horseback; to dismount.

c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 7135 (Kölbing). [He] gan arise of his swouȝ … Vp he lepe wiþ chaufed blod.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 8646. Achilles … bound vp his wounde … Lep vp full lyuely launchit on swithe.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 195. He lepe upon hys feet vigerously.

1481.  Caxton, Godfrey, lxviii. 113. The duc leep a foote & drewe oute his swerde.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 498. Arethusa leaping from her Bed, First lifts above the Waves her beauteous Head.

1821.  Shelley, Prometh. Unb., I. 96. A pilot asleep on the howling sea Leaped up from the deck in agony.

1859.  Tennyson, Vivien, 842. Vivien … Leapt from her session on his lap and stood Stiff as a frozen viper.

  fig.  1878.  Browning, La Saisiaz, 19. The sudden light that leapt at the first word’s provocation, from the heart-deeps where it slept.

  5.  transf. of things: To spring, move with a leap or bound; esp. to ‘fly’ (by explosive or other force). Often with advs. Also fig.

c. 1205.  Lay., 22031. Vðen þer leppeoð ut … fleoð ut a þat lond.

1340.  Ayenb., 27. And uor þet þe herte wes uol of uenym hit behoueþ þet hit lheape out be þe mouþe.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XII. iii. (1495), 411. The goshawke … smytyth and flappyth her wynges, and in soo doynge the olde fethers lepen out and newe growe.

c. 1420.  Liber Cocorum (1862), 46. Fyrst sethe þy mustuls quyl shel of lepe In water.

c. 1425.  Seven Sag. (P.), 627. Al the vertu ther schulde bee, Is lopon into the lytyl tre.

1575.  Gascoigne, Dan Bartholomew, Posies 98. From reasons rule his fancie lightly lope.

1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., III. ii. 206. He parted Frowning from me, as if Ruine Leap’d from his Eyes.

1667.  Marvell, Corr., xxxvi. Wks. 1872–5, II. 82. ’Tis probable it [the Bill] may this very day leap beyond any man’s reach for the future.

1790.  Burke, Fr. Rev. (C. P. S.), 89. I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards to avenge even a look that threatened her with insult.

1814.  Cary, Dante, Par., V. 91. The arrow, ere the cord is still, Leapeth unto its mark.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., I. x. 65. The echos … leaped from cliff to cliff.

1879.  Farrar, St. Paul (1883), 64. The vessel was shaken, and the name of Matthias leapt out.

1887.  Ruskin, Præterita, II. 154. Above field and wood, leaps up the Salevè Cliff, two thousand feet into the air.

  † b.  To burst, crack, ‘fly.’ Obs.

1477.  Norton, Ord. Alch., vi. in Ashm. (1652), 95. Manie Claies woll leape in Fier.

1604.  E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, III. xxvi. 198. As a chesnut laid into the fire, leaps and breaks.

  c.  Of the heart: To beat vigorously, beat ‘high,’ bound, throb. Also rarely of the pulse.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 289 b. Wherfore the herte hoppeth and lepeth in the body.

1596.  Bp. W. Barlow, Three Serm., Ded. 81. Made mens hearts to leape for joy.

1688.  Miége, Fr. Dict., s.v. Heart, His Heart is ready to leap into his Mouth.

1822–34.  Good’s Study Med., III. 32. He found its [the carp’s] heart leaping … four hours after a separation from the body.

1871.  Palgrave, Lyr. Poems, 6. His heart leapt high as he look’d.

1900.  May Byron, in Blackw. Mag., June, 789.

  d.  colloq. Of frost: To ‘give’ or thaw suddenly.

1869.  H. Stephens, Bk. Farm. (ed. 2), I. 139/2. When frost suddenly gives way in the morning about sunrise, it is said to have ‘leapt.’

  e.  Mining. (See quot.)

1747.  Hooson, Miner’s Dict., s.v., Sometimes a Vein … will Leap [as] much aside as a Yard … or more.

1802.  J. Mawe, Min. Derbyshire, 206. Gloss., Leap, the vein is said to leap when a substance intersects it, and it is found again, a few feet from the perpendicular.

  f.  with reference to leap-year.

1600.  [see LEAP DAY].

1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 6. Whereupon euery fifth yeere leapeth, and one odde day is set to the rest.

1604.  Bk. Com. Prayer, Rubric, When the yeeres of our Lorde may be diuided into foure euen partes, which is euery fourth yeere: then the Sunday letter leapeth.

a. 1681.  Wharton, Disc. Yrs. Months & D., Wks. (1683), 74. By this Addition … the Fixed Holy-days, and the like, do as it were leap one day farther into the Week.

  6.  fig. To pass abruptly or at a bound (from one condition or position to another). Also with back, down, up.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 236. Lo! hwu þe swike wolde makien hire, a last, leapen into prude.

a. 1240.  Wohunge, in Cott. Hom., 285. For þenne schal i lepen fra rode in to reste.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 8800. Þat þou þarfor lepe not in ire.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 384. Þus deede beggers freris, lippen up to kynges power.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 2084. Bot some leppe fro the lyfe, that one ȝone lawnde houez.

1568.  Satir. Poems Reform., xlvii. 101. The pairteis mett and maid a fair contrack; Bot now, allace! the men are loppin aback For oppin sklander, callit ane speikand devill.

1598.  Grenewey, Tacitus’ Ann., VI. x. (1622), 137. He gaue him time to leape backe from their agreements.

1613.  Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 223. And (to leape back into the Talmud) a certaine Rabbi … saw [etc.]. Ibid., 746. Let us draw somewhat nearer the Sunne, gently marching … lest if wee should suddenly leape from one extremity to another, wee should [etc.].

a. 1670.  Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (Bannatyne Club), II. 319. Forgetting his oath … he lap in to the uther syd.

1692.  R. L’Estrange, Josephus, IV. i. (1733), 78. Without leaping out of one Slavery into another.

1846.  J. Martineau, Ess. (1891), III. 378. They leap down from Aristotle to Bentham, from Plato to Coleridge, with the fewest possible resting-places between.

  b.  To pass over at a bound; † to evade, neglect.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., I. ii. 20. A hot temper leapes ore a colde decree.

1658–9.  Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 55. I could leap over the rest, but this passed, I doubt it will never be recovered in any age.

1727.  A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. p. xv. I can perceive several Things worth noticing, they have neglected or leapt over.

1891.  T. K. Cheyne, Orig. Psalter, viii. 408. The world’s great change was expected so shortly that the brief waiting time might easily be leaped over.

  7.  trans. To spring over; to pass from one side to the other by leaping. Also in phr. to leap bounds (lit. and fig.). Also said of a bridge span.

1432–50.  trans. Higden (Rolls), III. 57. Romulus diede afore thro lepenge the walles of Rome.

1597.  Montgomerie, Cherrie & Slae, 1046. Schaw skild and pithie resouns quhy That Danger lap the dyke.

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., I. iv. 21. Be clamorous, and leape all ciuill bounds.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 228. Let ’em not leap the Ditch, or swim the Flood.

1780.  Cowper, Progr. Err., 93. The Nimrod … Leaps every fence but one.

1786.  Burns, Twa Dogs, 30. He was a gash an’ faithful tyke, As ever lap a sheugh or dyke.

1865.  Kingsley, Herew., xxviii. Come on, leap it like men!

1886.  Ruskin, Præterita, I. 293. The single arched bridge that leaps the Ain.

  fig.  a. 1637.  B. Jonson, Pind. Ode, Mem. Sir L. Cary & Sir H. Morison, iii. He leap’d the present age, Possest with holy rage, To see that bright eternal day.

  8.  To cause (an animal) to take a leap. Also fig.

1681–6.  J. Scott, Chr. Life (1747), III. 355. Those restless Furies … will never cease stimulating and spurring us on … till they have leapt us headlong into the everlasting Burnings.

1860.  Russell, Diary India, II. 287. [He] had leaped his horse across a deep nullah.

  9.  Of certain beasts: To spring upon (the female) in copulation. Also absol. Also † to leap upon.

1530.  Tindale, Gen. xxxi. 10. All the rammes that leape vpon the shepe are straked, spotted and partie.

1530.  Palsgr., 606/1. Kepe your horse in the stabyll, for and he leape a mare he wyll be the worse to journey a good whyle after.

1535.  Act 27 Hen. VII., c. 6 § 4. The Lords … shall not … suffer any of the said mares to be covered or leapt with any stoned Horse.

1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, V. iv. 49. Some such strange bull leapt your fathers Cow.

1656.  Ridgley, Pract. Physick, 251. A Rain that never leaped a Sheep.

1737.  Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1757), II. 128. Colts got by such Horses that have leaped eight or ten Times a Day.

1772.  Ann. Reg., 105/1. A bull … which leaps cows at 5l. 5s. a cow.

1813.  Sporting Mag., XLII. 232. The young bull … will not leap any cows … till the first of May.

  transf.  a. 1611.  Beaum. & Fl., Philaster, II. ii. I had rather be Sir Tim the schoolmaster, and leap a dairy-maid.

1639.  Mayne, City Match, II. iii. 13. Why what are you? you will not leap me, Sir, Pray know your distance.

  10.  Comb.: leap candle (see quot.); † leap-land a., vagabond (cf. land-leaper). Also LEAP FROG.

1839.  W. J. Thoms, Anecd. & Tradit. (Camden), 96. The young girls in and about Oxford have a sport called *Leap Candle, for which they set a candle in the middle of the room in a candlestick, and then draw up their coats … and dance over the candle back and forth with these words [etc.].

1614.  D. Dyke, Myst. Self-deceiving (ed. 8), 256. God did not allow of such rouing *lep-land-Leuites.