Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CLIVVIE, Klivvy, Clevie, Clavie, n. [′klɪvi, ′kle:vi]
†1. “A cleft in the branch of a tree” (Bnff. 1825 Jam.2).
2. “An artificial cleft in a piece of wood, for holding a rush-light” (Ib.; 1883 Trans. Bnffsh. Field Club (April), clevie, clavie). Bnff.2 (1937) gives: “an artificial cleft in a piece of iron for holding a fir-can'le.”
3. A cleft instrument used for singling out and holding in position a whin-top about to be cut (Abd.5 1924).Bnff. 1921 Passing of the Laird in Bnffsh. Jnl. (9 March) 7:
I have talked to an old man who used the “hyeuck an clivvie” in cutting the green tops of whins.
4. “Place where a tide splits in two portions (on a skerry, etc.)” (Ork. 1929 Marw., klivvy).
[Marw. derives from O.N. klyf, prop. = a cleaving (cf. O.N. klyfja, to split, cleave (Zoëga)). It may, however, come directly from the root of Eng. cleave, to split, with vowel shortening, as in speak, Sc. spik, etc.]
