A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1513, 1600-1610, 1688-1689
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Cave, v. [Of uncertain origin. Cf. Keave v.]
1. intr. To fall over helplessly. 1513 Doug. xi. xiii. 43.
He cavis owr, furthbokand stremys of blude 1600-1610 Melvill (MS) 32 (J).
Sitting down on a bedside, he caves back over so that his feet stack out
2. To toss the head or body. a1689 Cleland Poems 66 (J).
Up starts a priest, … And did not cease to cave, and paut, While clyred back was prickt and gald
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"Cave v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/cave_v>
