▪ I. † ˈcavy, -ey, n.1 Obs.
A familiar or contemptuous abbreviation of cavalier. (Cf. cab, n.2, cave n.2) Hence ˈcavish a.
| 1645 Relat. Defeat to Skellum Greenvile 4 (D.) In the meane while..were at least sixty great gunnes shot off, which beat up the dirt bravely about the Cavies eares. 1650 A. B. Mutat. Polemo 15 The Cavies being at that time ready to turn anything, except Roundhead, for some money to be chirpingly drunk. 1664 A. Brome Poems 124 The Roundheads and Caveys no more shall be named. 1650 A. B. Mutat. Polemo 29 The Cavish Remora's of this Nation shall have their bellies full of rebelling and jarres. |
▪ II. cavy, n.2
(ˈkeɪvɪ)
[modification of cabiai, the Galibi name in French Guiana. (Perh. through Sp. or Pg.) Also Fr. cavié, mod.L. cavia.]
A rodent of the genus Cavia or family Cavidæ, all natives of America, of which the Guinea-pig and the Capybara are the chief species.
| 1796 Stedman Surinam II. xxii. 153 The long-nosed Cavy..or Indian Coney, is also very common in Surinam. 1813 Bingley Anim. Biog. I. 356 Of the Cavy tribe. The Cavies have, in each jaw, two wedge-shaped front teeth, and eight grinders. 1837 M. Donovan Dom. Econ. II. 95 The Javan Cavy..is not found in Java, but inhabits Surinam. 1838 Penny Cycl. XI. 480/2 Guinea Pig, Restless Cavy. |
▪ III. ˈcavy, n.3 dial.
Corruption of peccavi.
| 1863 Mrs. Toogood Yorksh. Dial., She begged cavy, and he forgave her. |
▪ IV. † ˈcavy, a. Obs.
[f. cave n.1 + -y1.]
Of the nature of a cave.
| 1614 Chapman Odyss. ix. 57 Divine Calypso, in her cavy house. |
▪ V. cavy
variant of cavie, hen-coop.