Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

KUIVY, n. Also keuvy, cuvie, cuvy; køvi (Jak.); kyufs. [′køvi] Anything having a stumpy, squat, or docked appearance, in the following specif. usages: 1. the fleshy part or stump of a horse's tail (Ork. 1887 Jam., 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 152, 1929 Marw.); 2. a sheep-mark, made by cutting off the tip of the ear (Ork. 1929 Marw.); 3. a kind of basket-work muzzle to prevent a horse from eating during harvest operations (Ib.); 4. a small basket of straw for holding limpet-bait, etc. (Sh. 1908 Jak (1928)); 5. a chest or receptacle in which fish is kept closely covered up till it has become high (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 125, kyufs); 6. a small, grooved wooden block, used in rope-making to lay the strands evenly (Ork. 1929 Marw.); 7. a variety of sea-weed, Laminaria cloustoni (Ork. 1845 T. Edmondston Flora Sh. 54, 1929 Marw.). Also in comb. kuivy-tangle, id. (Marw.).7. Ork. 1834 G. & P. Anderson Guide to Highlands 721:
The frond of the cuvy is thicker, shorter, and the segments more numerous and clustered than in the tangle.