Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
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.
MIAUVE, v., n. Also myauve, myawve, meave; myaue, myaw. [mjɑ:(v)]
I. v. Of a cat: to mew (Abd. 1825 Jam.; ne.Sc. 1962).Abd. 1885 Folk-Lore Jnl. III. 271:
The dog bow-wowt, an the cat myawvt.
II. n. 1. The mew of a cat (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 117; ne.Sc. 1962). Also Dim. myowie. Abd. 1995 Flora Garry Collected Poems 18:
Fyles ye myurr-myurr to me ma leen,
Yer quaverin myowies thin an smaa, ...
2. A piteous whine, hence a grudge, a grievance. But phs. a different word of uncertain orig.Cai.9 1948:
He said na muckle but you'd think he had a myaw.
