Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PIVER, v. Also pivver; piffer; pipper, pipr (Jak.); piefer, peifer, peever. [Ork. ′pɪvər, Sh. + ′pɪpər] To tremble, shake, vibrate; to quiver with fear, anger, cold, or the like (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., pipper; w. and s.Sc. 1887 Jam., peever, peifer; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw., pivver; I.Sc. 1966); of the heart: to throb, flutter (Jak.). Hence pipperation, n., a fit of trembling, a state of quaking fear or the like.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 33:
His han's pivered wi' faer a' the time. Troth a' the time he sat he wus piveran' like a paedle on a plate.Sh. 1884 C. Rampini Shetland 92:
That mysterious complaint which an old Shetland woman once described to a medical friend of mine as “the wind piffering in her veins”.Ork. 1915 Old-Lore Misc. VIII. i. 42:
A' piveran wi' gluff, for da cap waas tirrlan roond an' roond like a tirloo.Ork. 1931 Orcadian (7 May):
'E waas jeust piverin' wi' madrum.