caird

American  

[kaird, keyrd] / kɛərd, keɪrd /

noun

Scot.

1. a traveling tinker, especially a Romani.

2. a wandering tramp or vagrant.

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caird British  

/ kerd, kɛəd /

noun

1. obsolete a travelling tinker; vagrant

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Etymology

Origin of caird

First recorded in 1655–65; from Scots Gaelic ceard “tinker”; akin to Latin cerdō “workman,” Greek kerdṓ “cunning one”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

caird

But tho’ his little heart did grieve When round the tinkler prest her, He feign’d to snirtle in his sleeve, When thus the caird address’d her: AIR.

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Robert Burns

I pit th' —— wheel up, keepin' ma 'ee on th' compass caird; but that wis a fau't tae....

From The Brassbounder A Tale of the Sea by David W. Bone

It's queer to think," said Cosmo, "'at though we hae a' this siller, I maun tramp it the morn like ony caird.

From Warlock o' Glenwarlock by George MacDonald

But tho' his little heart did grieve When round the tinkler prest her, He feign'd to snirtle in his sleeve, When thus the caird address'd her: Air Tune—"Clout the Cauldron."

From Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Robert Burns

Th' caird swingin' ... think there's hauf a p'int....

From The Brassbounder A Tale of the Sea by David W. Bone