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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HAIVELESS, adj. Also haivless (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 74); haveless (Mry.¹ 1925); haweless (Abd. 1936 Huntly Express (10 Jan.) 6); heauveless. Found in n.Lin. dial. as ha(a)veless. [′he:vləs]

1. Shiftless, incapable, careless, extravagant, slovenly in habit (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 74; n.Sc. 1956).Abd. 1868 G. Macdonald R. Falconer II. vii.:
Dinna ye thmk I'm the haveless crater I used to be.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xix.:
He's a haiveless man; nae won'er nor ye was obleeg't to tak' yer innocent bairns awa' fae's skweel.Mry. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 20:
Mary liket to mak' the tay hersell — young fouks are haveless o' tay an' dinna think o' hainin'.Bnff. 1939 J. M. Caie Hills & Sea 37:
Sic an idle, drunken, thievin', Feckless, haveless rin-the-wuddy.

2. Senseless, meaningless (‡Abd. 1956).Mry. 1804 R. Couper Poems I. 116:
Nae heauveless, thread-bare, fashion'd cant Oppresses or deceives.Abd. 1826 D. Anderson Poems 106:
I left the hinds and hizzies a' At haveless hame-o'er clatter.Abd. 1893 G. Macdonald Songs 12:
Liltin' a haveless sang, Nannie — I wad kiss yer verra shune.