Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
NYAUVE, v., n. Also I.Sc. n(j)av, njaave, njaf(f), niaff, and freq. form nyaffle (Marw.). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. gnaw. Cf. Gnyauve. [njɑ:v]
I. v. 1. As in Eng. (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh. 1964). Vbl.n.pl. nyafflins, chewed fragments of food (Marw.).Sh. 1898 Shetland News (26 March):
Yon's what dy faider is fun a uncan cat njaavin apon i' da barn enoo.
2. Fig. To grouse, complain, carp (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928)). Ppl.adj. naavin, mean, ill-fed, hard-faced (Cai. 1911 John o' Groat Jnl. (12 May)), obstinate (Cai. 1964). Hence njavi, of children: grumbling, querulous, peevish, out of temper (Jak.).
II. n. Fodder for a cow (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
[A variant of Gnyauve, q.v. For the I.Sc. forms, cf. Norw. dial. gnava, to gnaw quietly, gnavla, to chew, gnaw, bite.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Nyauve v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/nyauve>
