(in pl.), subs. (colloquial).—Conventional—as in the proverb, ‘Free of her lips; free of her hips’—for the buttocks. Hence, to WALK WITH THE HIPS = to make play with the posteriors in walking; LONG IN THE HIPS; and HIPS TO SELL = broad in the beam; NIMBLE-HIPPED = active in copulation.

1

  c. 1508.  DUNBAR, Poems, ‘Of a Dance in the Quenis Chalmer’ (1836), i., 119. His HIPPIS gaff mony a hiddouss cry. Ibid., i., 124. ‘Of Ane Blak-moir.’ … Sall cum behind and kiss hir HIPPIS.

2

  1540.  LYNDSAY, Ane Pleasant Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis, line 3227.

        My craig will wit quhat weyis my HIPPIS.
    Ibid., line 4424.
Ye wald nocht spair to preve my graith,
            With hobbing of your HIPPIS.

3

  1600.  Grim, the Collier of Croydon, v. (DODSLEY, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, viii., 459). I keep her lips and her HIPS for my own use.

4

  d. 1607.  MONTGOMERIE, Poems, ‘Polwart and Montgomerie’s Flyting,’ p. 85, line 779 (Scottish Text Society, 1885–6). Kailly lippes, kiss my HIPS.

5

  TO HAVE (GET, or CATCH) ON THE HIP, verb. phr. (old).—To have (or get) an advantage. [From wrestling.]

6

  1591.  HARINGTON, trans. Orlando Furioso, bk. xlvi., st. 117.

        In fine he doth applie one speciall drift,
Which was to get the Pagan ON THE HIPPE:
And hauing caught him right, he doth him lift,
By nimble sleight, and in such wise doth trippe:
That downe he threw him.

7

  1598.  SHAKESPEARE, Merchant of Venice, i. 3.

        If I can CATCH him once UPON THE HIP,
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.

8

  1605.  MARSTON, The Dutch Courtezan, iii., 1. He said he had you A THE HYP.

9

  1617.  L. ANDREWES, Sermons (‘Library of Anglo-Catholic Theology’), vol. IV., p. 365. If He HAVE us at the advantage, ON THE HIP as we say, it is no great matter then to get service at our hands.

10

  1618.  D. DYKE, Michael and the Dragon, in Two Treatises, p. 328. The Diuell HATH them ON THE HIP, he may easily bring them to any thing.

11

  c. 1696.  B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. UPON THE HIP. … at an Advantage in Wrestling, or Business.

12

  1697.  VANBRUGH, The Relapse, iv., 1. My lord, she has had him UPON THE HIP these seven years.

13

  1812.  JOHNSON, English Dictionary, s.v. HIP. A low phrase.

14

  1836.  M. SCOTT, The Cruise of the Midge, p. 226. ‘Ha! ha! I HAVE you ON THE HIP now, my master,’ shouted Peter.

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