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.
Clever, n. Also: clewir, cleaver. [ME. clevre (rare), OE. clǽfre, var. of cláfre: see Claver n.] Clover. Also attrib. with girs (grass).a1570-86 Dunb.) Maitl. F. xiii. 26. (
Suppois I war ane ald ȝald auer, Schott furth our clewch to squische the cleuer 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 91.
Thair scho suld find … thrie cors of clewir girs, and cast the sam in the fyir 1683 Coll. Aberd. & B. 104.
It affords the best of grass, such as cleaver and filch grass
