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: 1866-1930
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CARB, CARBLE, Carb'l, Carbul, Cerb, v. and n.1 [kɑrb, kɑrb(ə)l, kɛrb]
1. v. "To cavil" (Abd. 1825 Jam.2, carb, carble); "to fret, wrangle, quarrel" (Sc. 1887 Jam.6, carb, cerb); to find fault (with). Vbl.n. carblin. Known to Bnff.2, Abd.9, Fif.10 1938.Bch.(D) 1930 P. Giles in Abd. Univ. Review (March) 105:
Bit fin A carbul't wi' 'im, a' 'at 'e said wiz, "Weel, Sandy, A dinna like t' leave fat wid be met t' some peer thing."Fif. 1868 St Andrews Gaz. (24 Oct.):
They were all quarrelling. . . . They were all carbling.Fif. 1901 "G. Setoun" Skipper of Barncraig xviii.:
It's a foy, a foy, an' we're enjoyin oursels without carblin or argy-bargyin.
2. n. Wrangling (Bnff.2 1938); "a silly argument" (Abd.4 1929, carb'l).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 22:
The fouk in yon hoose keep an unco carb wee ane anither.
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"Carb v., n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/carb_v_n1>
