A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1456-1460, 1513-1558
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Cavern(e, n. [ME. caverne (Chaucer), F. caverne, L. caverna.] A cavern, cave. 1456 Hay II. 131/4.
Serpentis enteris in thair cavernis c1460 Wisd. Solomon 817.
[Thai] that wont ware to schaw gud metis salbe in cauernys 1513 Doug. iii. vi. 166.
Vndir a roch, law within a cavern 1513 Ib. x. 35; etc.
Holl cavernys or furnys of Ethna 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 38/27.
The depe hou cauernis of cleuchis & rotche craggis 1549 Ib. 73/22.
The beiris … vil deffende there cauerne 1558 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 146.
Under the umbre of the dyik thay make thare dennis and cavernis
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"Cavern n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/caverne>
