crivvens

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Scots crivvens. Attested in English from the early 20th century.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɹɪvənz/

Interjection

crivvens

1. (Scotland, chiefly Dundee) An exclamation of astonishment or horror.

   Jings, crivvens an' help ma boab!

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:wow

Scots

Alternative forms

• crivens

Etymology

From earlier criffins, a euphemistic alteration of Christ fend us. Attested from the late 19th century.

Interjection

crivvens

1. an exclamation of surprise

   Crivvens, his boabs lang past helpin noo.

   Crivvens! he's long past help now.

References

• “crivens, int.”, 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.