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.
CINDER-MAVIS, n. comb. (See second quot.) [′sɪnər ′me:vɪs]Edb. 1882 (3rd ed.) J. Smith Canty Jock, etc. 29:
Washerwives and cinder-mavises.Edb. 1931 E. Albert Herrin' Jennie 39:
Among the tumbled heaps of rubbish that awaited the arrival of the dust-carts the “cinder-mavises” were already prowling abroad. These were generally old women seeking to salvage sufficient for a living from the garbage.
