Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1795-1808
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†CAIRBAN, n. Also caraban. “The basking shark” (Sc. 1825 Jam.2, also carbin, carfin, s.v. caoir), Squalus maximus.Inv. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 XIII. 336:
They have been at times so successful in the caraban fishing as to be entitled to some of the premiums granted by the Board of Trustees.w.Sc. 1808 P. Neill List of Fishes in Wernerian Nat. Hist. Soc. (1811) I. 550–551:
On the w. coast it [the basking shark] is well known by the names of sail-fish and cairban.
