Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†NAVIS-BORE, n.comb. Also navus-, naw(v)us-. A knot-hole in wood (Abd. 1825 Jam., Abd. 1921). See also Avisbore.Abd. 1801 W. Beattie Parings (1813) 24:
He staps wi' strae ilk navus bore, An' ilka crevice darns.Abd. 1832 A. Beattie Poems 150:
When Boreas through ilk navis bore, In elrich sounds, is heard to snore.Bnff. 1880 J. F. S. Gordon Chron. Keith 58:
A “navus bore”, or knot in the wood, if knocked out, was thought to be a peep-hole for the witches.
