Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CAVE, Kave, Keve, v.2 “To separate grain from the broken straw, after threshing” (n.Sc. 1808 Jam., cave; Bnff.2 1939, kave). [ke:v]Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 49:
The girl who kaves the corn is the only one for common who is gratified with the sight [of the dance; see Barnman, comb.].Kcb. 1814 W. Nicholson Poems (1897) 137:
For her he shook the hasky strae And kaved the corn fu' neatly.
Hence cavings, kevins, “the short broken straw from which the grain has been separated by means of the barn-rake” (Sc., Lth. 1825 Jam.2; also Bnff.2 1939). Given for most Eng. counties in E.D.D.Sc. 1939 A. K. M. Meiklejohn quoted in Abd. Press and Jnl. (9 June):
The chaff and cavings from a weedy crop should be burnt; don't use them for bedding.
