Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CAB, v. To earth up (a growing plant). Gael.Rs. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 XIV. 34:
Multitudes of fishers and others are much occupied from the middle of April till the middle of May, in providing sea-ware and planting potatoes. In the beginning of June they cab them, and two or three weeks afterwards they take away the weeds.
[Gael. cab, to break up earth with a spade or mattock, to dig, caibe, a spade. See Cabbie.]
