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.
†KEB, n.2, v.2
I. n. A blow (Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 237; Gall. 1827 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 289), a blow with the elbow (Rnf. 1837 Crawfurd MSS. X. 189).wm.Sc. 1837 Laird of Logan 195:
I gied him sic a keb at the haunch buttons, that gart him flee heels ower head.
II. v. 1. To give a good beating, to punish (Bnff. 1880 Jam.).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 93:
A'll keb the back o' ye, in ye dinna stop yir ill-ween.
2. To butt, jog, "as lambs do in seeking milk at the udder" (Rnf. a.1850 Crawfurd MSS. (N.L.S.) K. 2.).
[A Sc. variant of Cob, v.1, n.1, q.v. ( > Cab > *cabe). See P.L.D. § 54, § 48 (3).]