terp

noun

1. An interpreter (person who translates).

   “I don't think it's at all appropriate to hire a terp to review your correspondences, reports, grammar, tone, style, etc. It is completely YOUR responsibility to perform effective written communication tasks.”

   “But for troops in the new Afghan army, there is a particular irritant: Afghan interpreters working with U.S. soldiers — called terps by troops in the field — can earn more than an Afghan army officer.”

   “We don't understand what he's saying, of course, but he looks like he knows what he's saying. There's a certain something that emanates from a confused patient that this fellow doesn't have. I sure wish I had more 'terps. Well, we're not going to CT him right away.”

2. (slang)An interpreter (program that parses and executes another program).

   “So, I'm writing a Z-Machine terp. It is not done. It's getting there. Now, I have some ideas of things I would like this terp to do, but I thought it might be a nice idea to find out if there are any features that other people on this newsgroup would like in a Z-Machine terp.”

   “As far as I know all the TADS terps are just ports of the original.”

3. Any of various essential oils containing monoterpene alcohols which are added to a henna mix to darken the color.
4. (countable, dated, slang, uncountable)Dance.

   “In the terp section, Barbara Perry, last here in a straight role in Swan Song, scores smartly as a dancer, and lanky Jack Williams holds down the other lead stepping slot with his intricate tap routines. Dancing is overall excellent, but as noted above, there is too much of it.”

5. An artificial dwelling mound found on the North European Plain, created to provide safe ground during storm surges, high tides and sea or river flooding.

   “Most Dutch cities began on a terp or artificial mound to which the prehistoric amphibious folk rushed for refuge when floods rolled in.”

6. (informal)A member of a Maryland Terrapins sports team.

verb

1. (transitive)To add such an essential oil to (a henna mix).
2. (dated, slang, transitive)To dance.

   “Longhair terping got another boost around these parts Tuesday (3) when the Jooss Ballet returned to the New York City Center for a three-week stint. Heavy balletomane audience was on hand, generous in its applause welcoming back this unique troupe after a five-year wartime absence.”