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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CRIVENS, CRIVVENS, int. Gen. used as an excl. of surprise, and sometimes preceded by by or holy. Known to Bnff.2, Ags.17, Fif.13, Edb.1, Lnk.11 1941.Sc. 1989 Scotsman 1 Dec 12:
A long-overdue Scottish alternative to the ever-popular "Maggie, Maggie, Maggie - Out, out, out!" was included. It runs Crivvens, jings and help ma boab, let's put Thatcher oot o' a job. But despite the clear cultural link with Oor Wullie, this failed to catch on among the demonstrators and the old favorite remained No 1.
Sc. 1998 Andrew Lothian in Conrad Wilson Books in Scotland 66 29:
Still, they are both nicely presented examples of local antiquarianism of the least demanding, crivens-would-you-look-at-that, sort.
Ags.(D) 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) i.:
By crivens, he's gotten a richt horse for Donal', noo.
m.Sc. 1991 Robert Alan Jamieson A Day at the Office 131:
'Ok,' she said, indifferently. Inside she was mad
oh crivvens.
Lnk. 1932 G. Blake Sea Tangle 20:
“Holy crivvens!” he cried then. “It's a lassie!”
Slk. 1914 Southern Reporter (17 Dec.) 3/4:
Crivens! The schulemaister! A thocht, he wis tae be awa frae hame the nicht!

[Cf. Criffins.]

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