Småskav

Småskav is a regional term used in Scandinavian dialects to denote small shavings or scraps of meat produced by shaving thin slices from a larger cut. The word combines små, meaning small, with skav, from skava, meaning to scrape or shave. In culinary usage, småskav refers to very thin cuts of meat that are cooked quickly and may be used as an ingredient or garnish in rustic dishes, with pork being a common context.

Documentation of småskav is limited to regional dialect dictionaries and older cookbooks, and it is not widely attested in standard dictionaries. As a result, the exact meaning and scope can vary by locality. The term reflects a broader tradition in which meat is prepared in finely shaved or sliced forms to maximize tenderness and shorten cooking times.

Usage and recognition of småskav today are predominantly within regional speech and historical cooking literature. In contemporary contexts, speakers may encounter the more general terms skav or thinly shaved meat rather than the specific dialectal småskav. See also skav for related concepts of shaved or sliced meat in Scandinavian cuisine.