Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RIV, v.¹, n. Also rev. Sh. forms and usages of Rive, v., q.v. [rɪv]

‡I. v. To rend, tear apart (Sh. 1968); specif. of the dawn: tr. to rend the darkness of night, to bring on the day, intr. to break, esp. in phr. da rivin o da dim, dawn, daybreak; with aff, of the sky: to clear.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 4, 13:
Fae da dim rives till black dayset shü's yaag, yaag, yaagin. . . . Up as da laverock rave da dim, first at da eela for bait.Sh. 1895 Williamson MSS. (3 March):
He's revin aff o da sky noo.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
De laverick rives de dimm, prop. the lark is scattering the summer night, i.e. the lark heralds the dawn by its song.Sh. 1954 New Shetlander No. 40. 7:
Folk rekkit demsells, fur da maar-burds taald dem a da rivin a da dim.

II. n. 1. A tear, rent, rift (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1968); specif. the tearing apart of the darkness, the dawn (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., Sh. 1968). See quot. and Dim.Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 186:
“The riv o' the dim” — the first disappearance of darkness; “The lady hen sings to the riv” — the lark sings to the dawn.Sh. 1949 Scots Mag. (Nov.) 131:
Ettri is the period from midnight to the Dimmriv, or dawn.

2. A cleft, fissure (Sh. 1968); specif. “the lower orifice of a fish's gut” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1968).

3. A “tearing” hurry, great haste (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1968).