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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SCARGIVENET, n. Also skairgifnock, skerriegifnot, skirgiffin (Jam.), skirgifnet, skirgumpet. “A cant word for a girl, from twelve to fourteen years of age” (Gsw., Ayr. 1825 Jam.); also occas. applied to a boy in his early teens (Bnff., Abd. 1890, skirgumpet) “a thin person or thing” (Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 198). Once heard attrib. applied to a thin, sharp nose (Bnff. 1920, “a scargivenet nose”). [skər ′gɪfnət]

[Orig. obscure.]

22798

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