Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†GABBIT, n. Also gabbot, -art, gab(b)er(t). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. gobbet, a piece, lump.
1. A morsel, mouthful, “the mouthful of food which a bird is carrying to its young” (Rxb. 1825 Gl. Antiq. (Jam.2), gabbart). Cf. Gabbock, n.1Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 67:
He denner'd gustily with th' abbot, Acquentin' him 'tween ilka gabbot How near he 'scap't frae bein' stabbit.
2. A broken piece, a fragment, often in phr. to be a gabber, used to describe an imperfect or ruined article or beast, a “goner.” In pl.: “shivers; applied to what is dashed to pieces” (Per. 1825 Jam.).Sc. 1782 J. Callander Ancient Sc. Poems 79:
When a thing is dashed to pieces, they say it is driven to gaberts, or gabers.n.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
There's no a hale gabbit o't, it is all to rags.Per. 1900 E.D.D.:
If a man lets fall a pane of glass, “O! it's a gabber,” “Ye've made a gabber o' that cup.” If a horse or cow dies, “O! it's a gabber noo.” A boy says he has three marbles in his pocket and a gabber (a broken one).
