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

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 Burns, Robert

"Step in, sir, caird or gentleman," said my father—looking more bent at the shoulder than twelve years before.

From John Splendid The Tale of a Poor Gentleman, and the Little Wars of Lorn by Munro, Neil

Cruikshank's caird is a noble creature; his face and figure show him to be fully capable of doing and saying all that is above written of him.

From George Cruikshank by Thackeray, William Makepeace

O Willy, I can caird an' spin, Sae ne'er can want for cleedin'; An' gin I hae my Willy's heart, I hae a' the pearls I'm heedin'.

From The Home Book of Verse — Volume 2 by Stevenson, Burton Egbert

And Mysie, wha's clavering aunty Wud match her wi' Laurie the Laird, And learns the young fule to be vaunty, But neither to spin nor to caird.

From Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 3 by Mabie, Hamilton Wright