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.
Quotation dates: 1768, 1824-1956
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‡KIBBLE, adj. Also keible (Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 90), kyibble (Abd. 1930). Sturdy, well-built, active, agile (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; ne.Sc. 1889 Ellis E.E.P. V. 773, 1930 Abd. Univ. Review (March) 103, ne.Sc. 1960). [k(j)ɪbl]Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 16:
Fu' o' good nature, sharp an' snell with a', An' kibble grown at shaking of a fa'.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 22:
I gather't odds o' fifty kibble birks.Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 121:
There's the Provost o' Elgin . . . He looks weel. A kibble carl.Ags. 1895 F. MacKenzie Glenbruar 21:
A kibble bunch o' a wife.Abd. 1923 J. R. Imray Village Roupie 30:
I wis a tidy dainty cob, A kibble beastie, strong and smairt.Bnff. 1956 Banffshire Jnl. (17 July) 4:
His step wisna sae kibble an' brisk as it eest tae be.
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"Kibble adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/kibble>
