Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1832, 1995-1996
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SPAIVER, n. Also spaver, spever; spawer (Bnff. 1904 E.D.D.). The opening or fly in men's trousers (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 176; ne.Sc., Ags. 1971). Cf.Spare, n., 2. Also attrib. as in spaiver-button. [′spevər]ne.Sc. 1832 P. Buchan Secret Songs 11:
But the auld sow thrust her grunt In the spever o' his breeks.Sc. 1995 Duncan McLean Bunker Man 14:
She put one hand out to rest on his shoulder, and the other down to his spaver. Dundee 1996:
Nobody here is familiar with spare as meaning the fly-fastening or placket; we all call it a spaver - in common use.
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"Spaiver n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/spaiver>
