Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
KAVI, n. Also kaavie, caavie. [′kɑ:vi, Cai. ′keivi]
1. The sinker of a fishing line (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
2. With def. art.: the land, esp. the low land which, to one rowing out to sea, disappears before the higher land (Ib., Sh. 1959), in this sense sometimes as a pl.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 132:
Open da mooth o' da mamik . . . an' bring wis safe ta da kaavies.
3. A rock by the shore, a boulder; a stone used for ballast (Sh. 1814 Irvine MSS; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1959).Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 240:
I lippens every moment ta faa among da caavies.
4. A stone used in casting lots for fish (Cai.7 1941–59). Appar. a mistake for or con flation with Cavel, n.1, v., 1.
[From Kav, v., sc. the plunger, sinker.]
