haiver

Scots

Alternative forms

haver

Etymology

Unknown. Perhaps imitative of rambling or unclear speech, or perhaps derived from Old French avoir (“to have”) in reference to manners or comportment (compare English haviour).^[1] Attested from the 18th century.^[2]

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈheːvər]

Verb

haiver (third-person singular simple present haivers, present participle haiverin, simple past and past participle haivered or haivert)

to haver, talk in a foolish or trivial manner, speak nonsense, babble, gossip
- 1999, Iain W. D. Forde, “Ower the Brig ti Aiberdour” (chapter 3), in Hale Ir Sindries (The Fons Scotiae Thriesum; 2)‎^[1], Scotlandwell: Fons Scotiae, →ISBN; republished Glasgow: University of Glasgow, via the Scottish Corpus of Texts & Speech:
  “Dinna haiver,” admoneist thair mither, “This is a verra sairious maitter.”
  “Don't speak lightly,” their mother warned, “This is a serious matter.”
- 2015, Matthew Fitt, transl., Mr. Mingin, translation of Mr Stink by David Walliams, page 5:
  She hatit the tinsel, she hatit the crackers, she hatit the carols, she hatit haein tae watch the Queen haiverin on the telly, she hatit the mince pies, she hatit the wey it never really snawed like it wis meant tae, she hatit sittin doon wi her faimlie tae a lang, lang denner, and maist o aw, she hatit hoo she had tae pretend she wis happy jist because it wis December 25th.
  She hated the tinsel, she hated the crackers, she hated the carols, she hated having to watch the Queen blathering on the telly, she hated the mince pies, she hated how it never really snowed like it should, she hated sitting down with her family to a long, long dinner, and most of all, she hated how she had to pretend she was happy just because it was December 25th.
to make a fuss about nothing
to make a pretence of being busy
to dawdle, potter about
- 1916, T. Whyte Paterson, The Wyse-sayins o Solomon, page 88:
  Better lat a man meet a bear, gaun rampin aboot for her whalps, Than meet a fule haiver-haiverin wi' nae gumption.
  Better that a man should meet a bear, struggling for her cubs, Than meet a fool faffing about with no purpose.
to saunter, lounge

Noun

haiver (uncountable)

nonsense, foolish talk

Quotations

This entry needs quotations to illustrate usage. If you come across any interesting, durably archived quotes, then please add them!

Derived terms

haiverel (“halfwit; witless”)
haiverin (“nonsensical gossiping, babbling chatter”)
haivers (“nonsense, foolish talk, gossip, chatter”)
haivert, haivered (“half-witted”)

Descendants

English: haver

References

^ “haiver, v., n.”, in The Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries, 2004–present, →OCLC, reproduced from W[illiam] Grant and D[avid] D. Murison, editors, The Scottish National Dictionary, Edinburgh: Scottish National Dictionary Association, 1931–1976, →OCLC.
^ “haver”, in Collins English Dictionary, 2011–present.