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.
Quotation dates: 1889-1939
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KEB, n.3
1. The sheep-tick, Melophagus ovinus (Ork., Abd. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1902 E.D.D.; Ork., n.Sc., Wgt., Kcb. 1959).Sc. 1889 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm V. 139:
During summer and autumn sheep are subject to attacks by the "maggot-fly" . . . and to become infested with various parasites. Chief amongst the latter is the "ked," "keb," or "sheep-tick."Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 320:
He maybe kens a peerie air aboot . . . whyoos an' dippan sheep for scab an' kebs.Ork. 1939 Orcadian (15 June):
Thirr's a keb hae'n a feed oot o' the back o' me hough.
2. Fig. A small-sized person, gen. applied to infants or any creature small of its kind (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 93); "a shrunken, low-set woman" (Cai.9 1939).
[A variant of Ked, = 1., of unknown orig.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Keb n.3". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 9 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/keb_n3>
