keep cave

English

Etymology

UK C19. Used at Eton College, Berkshire. See cave (“look out, beware”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: kēp kāʹvē, IPA^(key): /kiːp ˈkeɪvi/

Verb

keep cave (third-person singular simple present keeps cave, present participle keeping cave, simple past and past participle kept cave)

1. (UK, school slang) To maintain vigilance.
   • 1989, Rudyard Kipling, “An Unsavoury Interlude”, in Stalky & Co.:

     I vote we go down and explore. No one will come up this time o' day. We needn't keep cavé.

   • 1911, Cosmo Hamilton, “Why Cupid Came to Earl's Court”, in Short Plays for Small Stages‎^[1], page 9:

     I'll keep cave for ten minutes.

   • 1912, Ethel Turner, Seven Little Australians‎^[2], page 154:

     Pip was mounting guard at the shed, and had undertaken to get Judy safely away, and Bunty had been stationed on the back verandah to keep cave and whistle three times if there was any danger.

Synonyms

• keep a lookout, keep watch