Etymology Map
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Caber

2 stages from Scottish Gaelic to English.

Today it means a long heavy wooden pole tossed end over end in Scottish Highland games

Where does the word "caber" come from? It comes from Scottish Gaelic cabar, adopted directly into English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
cabar
Scottish Gaelic · medieval
"pole, rafter"
'pole, rafter', also 'antler': Caber Féidh, 'deer's antler', is the badge and pipe tune of Clan Mackenzie
2
Stage 2 of 2
caber
English · 1500s
"tree trunk tossed in Highland games"
tossing the caber is the centrepiece of Highland games; Queen Victoria first attended the Braemar Gathering in 1848, starting its royal patronage
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Caber’s story begins in Scottish Gaelic: cabar meant “pole, rafter.” 'pole, rafter', also 'antler': Caber Féidh, 'deer's antler', is the badge and pipe tune of Clan Mackenzie. It reached English by 1500s as caber. Tossing the caber is the centrepiece of Highland games; Queen Victoria first attended the Braemar Gathering in 1848, starting its royal patronage. Today, caber means a long heavy wooden pole tossed end over end in Scottish Highland games.