Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1777-1824, 1877-1925
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CARVEY, CARVIE, CARVY, n. and v. [′kɑrvi, ′kɑrvĕ]
I. n.
1. The caraway plant, Carum carui (Abd. 1886 B. and H. 91, carvies). Known to Cai.7, Bnff.2, Abd. and Ags. correspondents (1938).Mry. 1914 H. J. Warwick Tales from “the Toon” 58:
But soon the garden calls us, and we are lured out to see how the “carvey” grows.
2. A caraway seed. Often used collectively and also attrib. with such words as bannock, cake, cheese, when these are flavoured with caraway seeds. Known to Cai.7, Bnff.2, Abd. and Ags. correspondents, Fif.10, Arg.1, Lnk.3 1938.Sc. 1824 S. E. Ferrier Inheritance III. ii.:
Pretty! — what makes her pretty? — wi' a face like a sooket carvy!Ork. 1920 J. Firth Reminisc. Ork. Par. (1922) 68:
One matron . . . made herself specially odious to the servers at a wedding by asking for . . . a farl (bannock) of her own baking, adding, in a lofty manner, “My bread is always baked with carvey.”Ags. 1925 Forfar Dispatch (31 Dec.) 2/5:
We micht get a whang o' carvie cheese.Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 26:
The farmers' wives are bakin thrang The farles wi' carvie spiced.Gsw.(D) 1902 J. J. Bell Wee Macgreegor vii.:
Dinna let me catch ye stravaygin' awa' again, or ye'll get nae carvies to yer tea.Dmf. [1777] J. Mayne Siller Gun (1836) 82:
Cookies and baiks, Short-bread wi' carvy nicely done, And ait-meal cakes!
3. “Confections in which caraway seeds are inclosed” (Sc. 1825 Jam.2; Fif.10, Kcb.1 1938).
4. Combs.: (1) carvy seed, caraway seed (Bnff.2, Abd.2, Ags.1, Fif.10 1938); (2) carvy sweetie, carvey —, a caraway seed coated with sugar (Bnff.2, Abd.19, Arg.1, Lnk.3 1938).(1) Abd. 1922 J. Lawrence in Bnffsh. Jnl. (24 Oct.) 2:
What do you think he holds out as a bait? “Drinkin sowens” — weel “syed,” with oat cakes — the curled kind — and carvy seeds in them.(2) Abd.(D) 1877 W. Alexander North. Rural Life in 18th Cent. xi.:
At Aikey Fair . . . there was always a wonderful supply of “carvy” and coriander sweeties, wherewith the lads might treat the lasses.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 280:
How to mak a bawbee bap into a fine cookey wi' carvey sweeties.
II. v. To flavour with caraway seeds (Abd.2, Abd.9 1938). Found only as ppl.adj.Dmf. 1823 J. Kennedy Poems and Songs 70:
With carvi'd bread, and bread and cheese, And as much yill as e'er they please.
