Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GAFS, v., n. Also gavs, gavis. Cf. Jafs, v.1, n. [gɑfs, gɑvs]
I. v. “To eat ravenously, swallow rapidly, to ‘wolf' down; e.g. of a dog — ‘He was gafsan an' eatan as fast as he could.' ‘Look at him gafsan doon his meat like a hungry hound'” (Ork. 1929 Marw.).Ork. 1931 J. Leask Peculiar People 272:
Noo boys gavis into ye.
II. n. “A snap, pretended bite — of a dog; e.g. ‘He made a gavs at me in fun'” (Marw.).
[Norw. dial. gafsa, to devour, bolt, deriv. of gapa, to gape.]
