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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.

Carve, v. Also: carwe, carfe (carvyn); p.t. carvit; p.p. corvin, -yn, carvin; corvyt, carwit, carvit, -et (carf). [ME. carve, later form of kerve(n Kerve v.] tr. To cut; to carve. a1400 Leg. S. xlv. 292.
The forms used by Douglas are copied from English. He … sone gert carwe hire tong in twa c 1450 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 201.
Item, j coffyr coruyn for the resurrectioun 1456 Hay I. 64/23.
Thai … set thare abune ane ymage of him curiously corvin in marbre a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1305.
Thair wes ane sepiltur Out of ane crag carwit rycht perfitly c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 21.
Vane organis he full clenely carvit 1513 Doug. x. vi. 132.
[His nek bayn and throte war carf in sondir Ib. xii. v. 216.]
Onto hys chyn the egge dyd carvyn doun 15.. Clar. ii. 267.
I sall thy heart heir carve in two Ib. iii. 723.
Hir hyd … Was all to rent and carvin heir and thair With thornie pikis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1848.
At that tyme thare wes none vsage, To carue nor for to paynt image Ib. 2285.
Sanct Peter, caruit with his keyis 1567 G. Ball. 72.
For stock and stane is mammontrie, Quhilk men may carfe or quhite 1596 Dalr. I. 295/21.
The inner parte of this tour al of tabulet wark curiouslie caruet c1650 Spalding II. 217.
Haueing … thrie vther kynd of crounes beneth, weill carvit with golden knappis