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Showing results for caird. Search instead for cairds.

caird

American  
[kaird, kayrd] / kɛərd, keɪrd /

noun

Scot.
  1. a traveling tinker, especially a Romani.

  2. a wandering tramp or vagrant.


caird British  
/ kerd, kɛəd /

noun

  1. obsolete a travelling tinker; vagrant

"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

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Only think of the beautiful Lady Cassilis who eloped with a belted knight, being reduced to the level of a hedge-tramper, and interchanging caresses with a caird!

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 61, No. 379, May, 1847 by Various

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 William Makepeace Thackeray

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

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

An' I'll send the auld cat a caird wi' something nice on it, to please ye .

From Wee Macgreegor Enlists by J. J. (John Joy) Bell

Over her shoulder she said in a voice that wavered slightly: 'That was hard cheese, Wullie, but ye maun send her a cheerier-like caird next time.

From Wee Macgreegor Enlists by J. J. (John Joy) Bell

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