Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1898-1923
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†GOVE, n.2 A nickname for a headmaster (at Heriot's Hospital, etc.); also a school governor. Hypocoristic dim. govy (S.D.D. Add.), govie.Edb. 1898 J. Baillie Walter Crighton 69:
The Govies and some of the parents of the boys had also gone into the hall.Edb. 1910 Scotsman (3 Sept.):
The Governor [of George Heriot's] was quite appropriately termed the "Gove."Abd. 1923 A. Shewan Spirat Adhuc Amor 236:
If the Govie heard you speaking good Doric, he would send you to the Tutor's Room.
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"Gove n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gove_n2>
