A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1504-1664
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Quaver, n.1 Also: quavir, -yr, quawer, quever; caver. [OF quevre, cuevre, coivre, also OF quivre, AF quiveir, whence ME (a1300) and e.m.E. quiver, Quiver n. For the phonology, cf. Quaif(f n.] A quiver, a case for arrows or crossbow-bolts. Also fig.Also applied to a bag or case for holding a bow or for golf-clubs. 1504 Treasurer's Accounts II 449.
For ane quavir full of arrowis 1511–12 Ib. IV 327. 1513 Doug. x iv 17.
With arrow casys and other quavyrris [Ruddim. quauerys] lycht 1513 Ib. vii xiii 83, etc. 1539 Treasurer's Accounts VII 178, etc.
For ane quavir to turs the ganȝeis in 1542 Acts & Decr. I. 141.
Ane hand bow, arrow bag and caver with arrowis1567 Bamff Chart. 70. 1575 Treasurer's Accounts XIII 69. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 748 (Wr.).
Both quaver [W. quiver] wings and bow a1605 Ib. 114, 145. 1585 Perth B. Ct. 27 April.
Ane bow ane quaver with the arrowis 1587 Edinburgh Testaments XVII 162. c1590 Fowler I 73/181.
Quawer c1614 Mure Dido & Æneas ii 251. 1621 Edinburgh Testaments LI 56b. 1627 Ib. LIV 117. 1664 Ib. LXXI 313b.
Ane arrow quever and ane bow quever, item ane quever for clubesfig. c1639 Mure Psalmes cxxvii 25.
Whose quaver fild with such [sons] is … His happines is great
b. Quaver-caice, a woman's vagina. — a1568 Scott iv 47.
Sic treitment is a trane To cleive thair quaver caice
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"Quaver n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 21 Apr 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/quaver_n_1>
