Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
KAE, v.3 To waste time, to dawdle, fritter the day away in a trifling manner. Ppl.adj. kaean, dawdling, procrastinating.Ork. 1930:
A kayan ting. Never a bit o' him could get on wi his wark, he just gaed kaean about aa the day.
[Orig. uncertain. Poss. a verbal usage of Kae, int., sc. to go about saying kae, or, less likely, from Kae, v.1]
