A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Clekan(e, Clekken, n. Also: cleking. [Of obscure origin; still in Cumberland dialect.] A shuttlecock. Also clekane-wittit, feather-brained, light-witted.1562-3 Winȝet I. 52/26.
Of na ressoun culd I be induceit … to credit … thame mair thairfor, as mony than (bot fy on the clekane-wittit in the cause of God!) of a maruelus facilitie did 1601 Treas. Acc. MS. 81.
Ane dosan of golf ballis, … tua golff clobbis, … ij dosan clekan, … tua pellok boll stringis 1604 Elgin Rec. II. 123.
Delatit Robert Torrie [etc.] … playing in the Marques of Huntleis hous, … the tyme of the eftir nownes sermone at the clekken 1665 Lauder Journal 125.
The bairnes have the exercise of the tap, the pery, the cleking and (instead of gouf) they have shinyes
