Chavie
/ˈtʃeɪ.vi/noun
A child or young person, especially in Scots or dialectal usage.
Did you know?Chavie is related to the Romani word chhāvo, meaning “boy” or “child,” the same source behind the modern British slang word chav.
Etymological Timeline
Early Modern Period
Romani
chhāvo
“Boy, child; a masculine form in Romani vocabulary.”
Early Modern Period
Romani
chhāvi
“Girl or young female; the feminine counterpart of chhāvo.”
18th–19th Century
Scots/Dialect English
chavie
“A child or young person, used regionally.”
20th Century
British English
chav
“A young working-class person, later used as a class-based insult.”
Modern English
English
chavie
“A rare Scots or dialectal word for a child.”