arch. For forms see CLIP. [OE. beclyppan, f. BE- 1 + clyppan to clasp, embrace; see CLIP v.]
† 1. trans. To fold in the arms, embrace, clasp. Obs.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Mark ix. 36. Þa nam he anne cnapan … he hine beclypte.
c. 1220. Ureison, in Cott. Hom., 201. Hire leoue child for to bi-cluppen.
1297. R. Glouc., 469. Hii custe hom & bi clupte.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 95. Whan I may her hond beclippe.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, 16. Her right arme shal beclyppe me.
1643. Horn & Robotham, Gate Lang. Unl., xx. § 229. Hugging, beclipping, and embracing her foster-child.
1669. Worlidge, Syst. Agric. (1681), 113. A Pear-tree … as much as three Men, from hand to hand, could beclip.
2. To wrap round, enclose, encircle, surround.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. cxix. 6. Me fyrenfulra fæcne rapas … oft beclyptan.
a. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 6109. Of Sarraȝins gret threng … hem biclepten in that place.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, Rolls Ser. I. 59. Occean byclippeþ al þe erþe aboute as a garlond.
1494. Fabyan, VI. cxlviii. 134. The Wandalis … approchid the cytie … and it enuyroned, or beclypped with a stronge siege.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg., F iij 2 b. The muscles and cordes … beclyppeth all the joynt of the bone called vlna.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., XIII. lxxviii. (1612), 323. Yeat Sea the Earth, the Aier them both, the skie be-cleaps them all.
1855. Singleton, Virgil, II. 121. The flood … beclips, and whirls The booming rocks.
† 3. To include, comprise, comprehend, contain.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 19. Þe hehscipe of þe mede þat tis ilke lut wordes bicluppen abuten.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 194. He wolde embrace All that this wide world beclippeth.
† 4. To lay hold of, seize upon, grip; to catch, overtake. lit. and fig. Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 462. Þe pope will beclippe worldly worchip. Ibid. (1382), Isa. v. 29. He shal … holden the prei, and biclippen, and ther shal not be that delyuere out.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W., 1495), II. 180 b/1. He toke his waye … but was beclypped of the nyghte.
1493. Festivall (1515), 17 b. A grete blacke toode … had beclypped his faders herte.
1557. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 224. Get euer before hande … least winter beclip thee.
† b. To curdle (milk). Obs. Cf. catch.
c. 1400. Maundev., 52. Take also a drope of Bawme, and put it in to a Dissche … with Mylk of a Goot; and ȝif it be naturelle Bawme, anon it wole take and beclippe the Mylk.
