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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CLACK, n.¹ and v. Cf. Claik, n.¹, v.¹, and Cleck. [klɑk]

I. n.

1. “The clapper of a mill” (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Known to Ags.¹⁷ 1940. Obs. in Eng. since early 18th cent. (N.E.D.).Rnf. 1861 J. Barr Poems 147:
Her tongue it will never lie still . . . And gangs like the clack o' a mill.

2. “Slanderous or impertinent discourse” (Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems, Gl.); gossip, senseless chatter; language (used contemptuously) (Ayr., Dmf. 2000s). Known to Ags.¹⁷, Fif.¹ 1940. Also found in colloq. Eng. (Un. Eng. Dict.).Sc. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables frae the French 18:
It's figurative language I hae used To shaw hoo ye misca'd me wi' yer clack.Sc. 1989 Scotsman 14 Aug 20:
Motorists speaking a clack of strange foreign tongues, including Motherwell, home in upon this vista with its power to restore the spirit and calm the mind: ...Ags. 1815 W. Gardiner Poems and Songs 46:
But my horn I'll gie him corn, For a' his cursed clack.m.Sc. 1986 Colin Mackay The Song of the Forest 47:
All this time she had been sitting listening to their clack, cherishing her own memories and her knowledge by the fireside.Edb.¹ 1940:
Stop yer clack!Hdg. 1801 R. Gall Poems (1819) 93:
But, sad mishanter! now thae days are gane, Whan Scotian callants kent nae leid but ane; . . . Wad never lout newfangled clack to hear: Then could her sangsters loud their steven raise.

II. v.

1. To gossip (Fif.¹, Lnk.¹¹ (for Rxb.) 1940). Vbl.n. clacking.Abd. 1931 J. H. Hall Holy Man 48:
You're the biggest gossip in Ardnacraig and ought to have picked up some wisdom with all your clacking.

2. To hatch. Found only as vbl.n. clackin, clackan, a brood (Mry.¹ 1925, clackin); also used in a derogatory sense of human beings = a great number. Cf. Cleckin(g), 3.Sc. 1825 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 26:
Hae a regular succession o' clackins frae about the middle o' March till the end o' August, and never devour aff a haill clackin at ance.Tyr. 1928 “M. Mulcaghey” Ballymulcaghey (1929) 77:
William dear, do you mind the clackan of sarvants that they used to have in the oul' Curnel's time?