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.
KIVER, v., n. Sc. form of Eng. cover. [′kɪvər]
I. v. To cover (Lnk. 1825 Jam.; Slg.3 1942; Abd., Lth., Bwk. 1960). Vbl.n. kiverin(g), ppl.adj. kiver'd.Sc. c.1745 Hogg Jacob. Relics (1821) I. 191:
There was a king's son kiver'd o'er wi' raggies, A' for to dinner on our Bessy's haggies.Dmf. 1805 Scots Mag. (Sept.) 782:
Upon the Enbrugh Magazine, Whare, kiver'd snug, The chaunter o' an unco frien' Burn'd i' my lug.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary xxv.:
It will be but a muckle through-stane laid down to kiver the gowd.Slk. 1817 Hogg Tales (1874) 150:
He was eneuch to fley a' the grand folk out o' the room, an' set the kivering o' the floor a-swoomin.Sh. 1822 S. Hibbert Descr. Sh. 442:
Another sort of woollen cloth that was manufactured was expressed by the term Kiverins, or coverings for the beds of the peasantry. These were composed of very coarse materials. Sometimes they formed a ground, into which different coloured worsteds were sewed, so as to display various figures.Sc. 1836 Chambers's Jnl. (Oct.) 288:
Auld folk frail, the hale day shiverin, Blythe will be wi' sic a kiverin.Sh. 1892 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 243:
I sees mysel' kivered wi' hoes fae da croon o' da head ta da sole o' da fit.
II. n. A covering of any kind (Lnk. 1825 Jam.; Abd., Lth., Bwk. 1960), a bed-cover (Mry. 1911 Trans. Bnff. Field Club 109). Specif. a cover or frank to a letter.Sc. 1806 Scott Letters (Cent. ed.) I. 337:
The Bart in the abundance of his parliamentary connections and freindships having promised to get me a kiver I think I cannot employ time or a frank better than be enquiring whether you have got rid of the unlucky Typhus.
