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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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GRAVAT, n. Also gravit, -et, grauvat, -et, -it, graavat, -it, gravatt(e), grawvat; †gravate (Abd. 1704 in T. Mair Ellon Par. Rec. (1898) 287); gravad (Cai.⁹ 1939), see P.L.D. §158; graavut. Sc. forms of Eng. cravat. Also in n.Eng. dial. [Sc. ′grɑ: vət, but Cai. -vəd, m.Sc. ′grǫ: vət]

1. Lit. A scarf or muffler, now gen. one of wool; †a cravat. Gen.Sc.Edb. 1701 D. Robertson S. Leith Rec. (1925) 4:
He took hold of his gravatt with one hand and haveing his kane in the other hand threatened to beat him three severall tymes.Abd. 1710 Abd. Jnl. N. & Q. VII. 126:
For 7 ells musselen to be six gravets to myself and tuo hoods to my wife.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 42:
Gi'e me my sark an' gravat; I'se be as braw's the Deacon is Whan he taks affidavit.Per. 1802 S. Kerr Poems 59:
His gravat, that was wont in genty plies To be by Nelly, triggit out sae snod, About his neck right carelessly he ties.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 105:
Saw him wi his Sunday's co't, A reid gravat aroond his t'ro't.Sc. 1893 Stevenson Catriona xviii.:
A long hairy-like man's greatcoat and a big gravatt.Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr, Dezember 18:
Da waarmest graavits is da lasses' airms.wm.Sc. 1934 T. Smellie Tea-Pairty 41:
"An' tell yer maw," says I, "that a knittet grawvat wid be faur mair comfortabler than a string o' beads on a cauld nicht."Ags. 1945 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 334:
I noticed the dominie had on his grand tail-coat, his fine gravit, and his Sabbath breeks.Ags. 1995 Courier 18 Mar.:
"I remember the recipe [for a tattie-bogle] ... First you need a neep for his head, a bannet for his pow, and a graavut for his thrapple. ..."

Phrs.: (1) a Scotch gravat, another's arm around one's neck, an embrace (Ags. 1955); (2) a sweep's gravat, a string of black puddings (Ayr.⁹ 1955); (3) to be licht abeen the gravat, to be empty-headed, silly, frivolous (Abd.²⁷ 1955).

2. Fig. The hangman's noose; gen. preceded by hemp(en), etc. Arch. or liter.Ags. 1790 D. Morison Poems 130:
E'en let him tak a dance, In a hemp gravat, on yon lonely tree.wm.Sc. 1837 Laird of Logan 197:
After the victim was cut down, Bauldy [the city executioner] mounted the beam . . . "Now . . . ye see how neatly I can do a job; there's no ane o' your wizzened necks, that I'll no gie a gravit for drug cheap!"ne.Sc. 1884 D. Grant Lays 44:
But ye'll girn through hempen gravat Gin I dee upo' the road.Arg. 1898 N. Munro John Splendid xviii.:
MacColkitto . . . was for the tow gravatte on the spot. Instead we were put on parole.Sc. 1931 J. Lorimer Red Sergeant 17:
I seemed to see my friend with the hempen gravatte round his neck.