A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Keave, v. [Cf. ON. kafa to dive under water, etc., and kefja to dip, put under water; also mod. Cheshire dial. keeve, keive to topple over, and Shetland dial. kev, kev ower to drop off (with sleep). See also Cave v. 1.] intr. Of a person: To fall or topple (back) over helplessly. —1600-1610 Melvill 50.
Sitting down on a bedsyde, he keaves bak ower, sa that his feit stak out stiff and dead Ib. 169.
The hat rowing, and the stope with the stark eall besyd him, maid him atteance to keave ower aslipe
