Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1824-1866, 1993-2000
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MEEVE, v., n. ne.Sc. form of Eng. move (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 113; ‡Abd. 1962). Also mive (Mry. 1927 E. B. Levack Lossiemouth 10). Hence n.dim. meevie, in reduplic. phr. meevie nor mavie, not a movement or sound, not a whisper. See also Muve.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 66:
The moon's as white's a new-blawn wreath o' snaw, Meevy nor mavy, now, ane wadna hear.Abd. a.1838 Jam. MSS. X. 198:
"Has my lord come to the town?" "I've heard neither meevy nor mavy o' him."Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 113:
A leukit oot, an' harkent; bit a hard naither meevie nor mavie.ne.Sc. 1993 Ronald W. MacDonald in A. L. Kennedy and Hamish Whyte New Writing Scotland 11: The Ghost of Liberace 71:
It feart the loon as sair at he couldna meeve;...ne.Sc. 1996 Judith Louise Taylor in Sandy Stronach New Wirds: An Anthology of Winning Poems and Stories from the Doric Writing Competitions of 1994 and 1995 50:
Edinbro's fine
Tho ye winna hae time,
Cos ye canna git meeved for i traffic!Abd. 2000 Sheena Blackhall The Singing Bird 18:
Fin we are slawly meevin -
Ma first time doon yon road -
On fower cord-bearers' showders,
They'll ken me fur a wechty load.
