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 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CABBIE, n.³ A kind of mattock (see quots.).Rs. 1795 J. Sinclair Agric. N. Counties 77:
Two cabbies or small half-side mattocks. Rs. 1810 G. S. Mackenzie Agric. Rs. 208:
Where heath is too short to burn standing, it may be very quickly torn up by means of an instrument called by the country-people, a cabbie, which is a half-pick with a broad end.

[O.Sc. cabbie, id., 1653, Gael. caibe, a mattock. Cf. Cab, v.]