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.
SKAAVE, v. Also skav (Jak.), skaav. To scrape, shave, scratch, to skin, abrade; to hoe, scrape off weeds (Ork. 1970). Freq. in vbl.n. and deriv. skaavin, 1. in pl.: the scrapings of food from the bottom of a pot (Sh. 1970). Cf. Skovin; 2. a sea-taboo term for a cat (Sh. 1897 J. Jakobsen Dial. Shet. 27), deriv. skavnas(h)i, id. (Ib.). For the second element cf. O.N. nasar, the nose, nostrils. [skɑ:v]Ork. 1929 Marw.:
He skaaved his knuckles against the wa'. Are you skaaved your tatties yet?
