subs. (Scots’).—1. Sprats. Sometimes GARVIE-HERRING.
1845. P. ALLOA, Statist. Acc., viii., 597. They are often very successful in taking the smaller fish, such as herrings, GARVIES or sprats, sparlings or smelts.
2. (military).—The Ninety-fourth Foot. [From the small stature of the earlier recruits.]
1869. Notes and Queries, 4 S. iii., p. 349. GARVIE. The soubriquet points to the low average height of the recruits in the Fifeshire regiments, which, however, may not now be the case, since recruiting has become less local.
