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.
DAOVER, Dover, adj. num. Nine. Used by shepherds in the hill-districts (Dmf. 1928 Rymour Club Misc. III. 108). Ib. I. 103, dover is given as a numeral used in children's rhymes in Edb., and it is also given as used in counting-out rhymes in various n.Sc. districts by W. Gregor in Trans. Bch. Field Club (1887–90) 197.
[Orig. from the old Cymric lang. of Strathclyde: cf. (Old) Welsh naw = nine. The form has developed under the influence of the surrounding numbers, aover, eight, Dek, ten. For the full list, see under Baombe. Yks. variants are dauver, dof(f)ra, Cum., Lan. dovera, dowra.]
