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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HUVIE, n. Also huvvy, hüvi (Angus), huivy; høvi, hovi(e) (Jak.), houvie, hoovie; heevie, heavie (Ork.); haev(y) (Cai.); ¶hob(b)i. [Sh. høvi; Ork., Cai. hi:vi]

1. A basket woven from plaited straw or dried stalks of the dock, varying in shape and use, creel-shaped for carrying fish, of a squarer form with a cross handle for holding bait, or like an inverted beehive for holding salt (Cai. 1902 E.D.D., haev; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw.; Cai. 1957, heevie; Sh. 1957). Used in Cai. by children collecting Halloween gifts (Cai. 1957). Combs. bet-hovi, sauti hob(b)i (Jak.).Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 32:
Liftin' up his head ta rake ower his hovvie.Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr (Faebruary 23):
A cloister is no da best huvvy for da saat o da aert.Sh. 1931 Scots Mag. (Aug.) 336:
“Hoovie” retains its ancient form and means a basket for holding bait.Cai. 1940 John o' Groat Jnl. (1 March):
Gang oot tae 'e farskal for ma haevy o' lempads.

†2. A muzzle of plaited straw fastened over a horse's mouth to prevent it from eating the corn (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).

3. A kind of basket-work fish-trap used in a trout-stream (Ork. 1887 Jam.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh., Ork. 1957). Comb. høvi-brigg, a bridge to which such a trap is fastened (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).Sh. 1845 Stat. Acc.² XV. 107:
The houvie is made of the stalks of the dock, wide at the one end, and narrow at the other. A dike is built across the burn, leaving an open space in the middle sufficient to admit the wider end of the houvie. After the houvie is firmly placed in this open space, a person, with a stick in his hand, wades down the burn, and drives the trouts before him. Having entered the houvie and reached its narrow end, they cannot turn to get out again.

4. A small basket scoop with a wooden handle used for landing fish (Ork. 1929 Marw.).