Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SKIVE, v.2 To shave, pare, slice off a thin layer (ne.Sc., Ags., em.Sc.(b), Lnk. 1970); to whittle a piece of wood (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Derivs. skivalt, a thin layer, esp. of skin (Id.), skiverek, a thin piece of turf pared off the top of a peat-bank in preparation for cutting the peats (Sh. 1962). [skɑev]em.Sc. 2000 James Robertson The Fanatic 181:
' ... It will be a new and better life, an eternal life. Did ye ken, sir, they kept me in chains in the Tolbooth mair than a twalmonth? Can ye think whit like that is? The iron bands skive the skin aff ye till ye're raw tae the banes. Ye wouldna see a dug treatit sae ill. ... '
