Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1785-1825, 1894-1933
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CA, CAA, KAA, CAW, n.4 and v.3 [kɑ:, kǫ: m.Sc.; kɒ: s.Sc.]
1. n. A calf. Known to Abd.22 1938. Fig., a soft, foolish person; given as obs. by Rxb.2 1919.Pl. Comb. ca'es neuk, a corner in an Ork. farmhouse where a young calf was reared.Ork. 1894 W. R. Mackintosh Peat-fires 195:
A wall, called the "cattie wa'", separated the "ca'es neuk" from between the doors.Rnf. 1816 A. Wilson Poems 188:
Then Clootie, shaped like a burd, Flew down, as big's a twomont Ca, And clinket Eppie's wheel awa'.Rxb. 1825 Jam.2:
Ye silly ca'.
Pl. forms: caa's, kaaz (Cai. 1919 T.S.D.C. III.), ca'es (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 107), caws (s.Rxb. c.1920 (per e.Dmf.2)).Per. 1933 I.R. in Scotsman (6 Jan.):
Our farm folk speak of their "caa's" (calves).
2. v. To calve. Caed = calved, also known to MacTaggart for Gall. (1824).Ayr. 1785 Burns Second Ep. J. Lapraik (1786) i.:
While new-ca'd kye rowte at the stake.Ayr. 1912 D. M'Naught Kilmaurs Par. and Burgh 299:
"A new ca'd coo," in Ayrshire has but one meaning — "newly calved" — and no other.
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"Ca n.4, v.3". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/ca_n4_v3>
