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.
MAW, n.7, v.2 Also mawe; reduplic. form maw-waw. Dim. mawie.
I. n. The call of a cat, a miaow (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 338, maw-waw; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); a pet-name for a cat (Ork.5 1962, mawie). Cf. Mauley.Rxb. 1820 Scots Mag. (June) 533:
About hauf a score o' great big grey cats cam ane by ane — gaed a loud mawe — crawled thrice withershins.
II. v. To mew as a cat (Watson). Vbl.n. mawing (Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 286).Abd. 1817 J. Christie Instructions 92:
A neighbouring Cat ae night maw'd keen.Kcb. 1899 W. F. McHardy Bonnie Montrose 53:
Creepin' like a partan, mawin' like a cat.
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