subs. (old).—A brothel. For synonyms, see NANNY SHOP. TO TATTER A KIP = to wreck a house of ill-fame.
1766. GOLDSMITH, The Vicar of Wakefield, xx. My business was to attend him at auctions, to put him in spirits when he sat for his picture, to take the left hand in his chariot when not filled by another, and to assist at TATTERING A KIP, as the phrase was, when we had a mind for a frolic.
2. (common).—A bed.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Breeding-cage; bugwalk; bunk; cage; cloth-market; dab; doss; dossing crib; downy; Feathers Inn; flea-pasture; latty; letty; libb; lypken; perch; ruggins; shake-down; snooze.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. L’autel de plume (popular: = Feather’s Inn); la bâche (thieves’ = awning); le flac (thieves’); le flacul (thieves’); le fournil (popular = bakehouse); la halle aux draps (common = CLOTH-MARKET); le pagne (thieves’ from panier = basket); le panier aux ordures (popular).
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, ‘Autobiography of a Thief,’ in Macmillan’s Magazine, XL., 501. So I went home, turned into KIP (bed).
1891. Answers, 31 Jan. ‘Oh yes,’ said the doctor, ‘this is a very decent KIP; I have tried a good many, but this is the best of the lot.’
1892. Morning Post, 25 Oct., p. 2, col. 4. White said, ‘I went in there to have a KEP’ (slang term for cheap lodging).
3. (American).—A fool; a silly fellow: he’s a KIP = he’s dull-witted—MATSELL (1859).
Verb. (old).—1. To play truant; TO DO DOLLY: Cf. CHARLEY WAG.
1821. D. HAGGART, Life, p. 3. I was sometimes turned down for KIPPING.
2. (thieves’).—To sleep; to lodge.
