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.
Quotation dates: 1889-1939
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KEB, n.3
1. The sheep-tick, Melophagus ovinus (Ork., Abd. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1902 E.D.D.; Ork., n.Sc., Wgt., Kcb. 1959).Sc. 1889 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm V. 139:
During summer and autumn sheep are subject to attacks by the "maggot-fly" . . . and to become infested with various parasites. Chief amongst the latter is the "ked," "keb," or "sheep-tick."Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 320:
He maybe kens a peerie air aboot . . . whyoos an' dippan sheep for scab an' kebs.Ork. 1939 Orcadian (15 June):
Thirr's a keb hae'n a feed oot o' the back o' me hough.
2. Fig. A small-sized person, gen. applied to infants or any creature small of its kind (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 93); "a shrunken, low-set woman" (Cai.9 1939).
[A variant of Ked, = 1., of unknown orig.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Keb n.3". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 10 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/keb_n3>
