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caird

[kaird; Scot. keyrd]
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noun Scot.
  1. a traveling tinker, especially a gypsy.
  2. a wandering tramp or vagrant.
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Origin of caird

1655–65; < Scots Gaelic ceard tinker; akin to Latin cerdō workman, Greek kerdṓ cunning one
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for caird

Historical Examples

  • And see Mary and all the lave have their hands as black as a caird's.'

    Two Penniless Princesses

    Charlotte M. Yonge

  • Mr. Caird gave me a striking instance of such a case in Scotland.

  • But in any case Mr. Caird's amendment was promptly negatived.

  • The dinner and the evening were all that Mrs. Caird intended.

    Playing With Fire

    Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr

  • "Then it is just as well his father did not stay to hear it," replied Mrs. Caird.

    Playing With Fire

    Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr

British Dictionary definitions for caird

caird

noun
  1. Scot obsolete a travelling tinker; vagrant
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Word Origin

C17: from Scottish Gaelic; related to Welsh cerdd craft
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012