Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CADGE, Cadje, Kedge, v.² and n.² A ne.Sc. word, known to Bnff.² and all our Abd. correspondents. [kɑdʒ, kɛdʒ]

1. v. To shake up, knock about, jostle. Jam.² gives the form kedge. Vbl.n. cadgan, shaking-up, jolting. Cf. Caitch and Keytch.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 21:
He got a gey cadgan gain' through the hill in's cairt.Abd. after 1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherd MS. 56:
They never had been cadg'd at sick a rate Or ever thought to hae so hard a fate.Abd. 1886–1894 Anon. Jeems Sim (1st Series) 61 in North. Figaro:
Sae wi' that noble an' high soondin' resolution cadjin my brains, I set oot tae the park far the picnic wis tae be hauden.

2. n. A shake, a jolt; a nudge or hint.Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 131:
By some wrang cadge she ga'e her hand.Abd.⁴ 1929:
“Better kail i' ma caup an' niver gaed them a cadge.” (When one has a lover, or anything of more consequence than that spoken of.)