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.
MEEVE, v., n. ne.Sc. form of Eng. move (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 113; ‡Abd. 1962). 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.
