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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.

Cloud, Clowd, n. Also: cloude, clowde, clood. [ME. cloud(e, clowd(e, clud(e, corresp. in form to OE. clúd mass of rock, hill. See also Clud n.]

1. A cloud in the sky, or of mist.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxviii. 710.
Of hyre cors a dow al quhyt flaw, … & in the clowdis clame belyf c1475 Wall. vii. 580.
The strang stour rais, as reik … Or myst, throuch sone, vp to the clowdis past 1513 Doug. i. i. 76.
The wild fyre down sche slang Furth of the clowdis Ib. ii. ii. 1100; etc.
The stormy clowdis our al the ayr gan rowt(b) 1456 Hay I. 42/31.
A day hapnyt to cum about him sik a cloud that na man … mycht se him Ib. II. 158/5.
Rycht as foulis and cloudis fleis throu the ayr c1460 Wisd. Sol. 795.
Quhen the cloud slaikis, the rane our-strenklys the erde a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 20.
The Northin wind had … sched the mistie cloudis fra the sky 1490 Irland Mir. I. 99/18.
Of the licht cloude that God maid, fyrst he maid the hevinly … sone c1515 Asl. MS. I. 162/28.
The tother twa ar drawin wp in the aire be the cours of the mone in the cloudis 1558-66 Knox II. 288.
The keyes war delivered unto hir by a pretty boy, descending as it war from a cloud 1596 Dalr. I. 5/13.
The are … sumthing thiker, and mae cloudes Ib. 288/28.
This was the first day that brak the cloudis and cleiret the skye

b. In figurative uses. 1461 Liber Plusc. 382.
Of glowdis [v.r. clowdis] of sorow, of angger and distres c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 178.
A cloud of arowis as hayle schour lousit thay 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 197.
Vnder the clowdis of dyrk poetry

2. In the phr. under cloud (= cover) of nicht.Common in the 17th cent. with reference to criminal offences committed by night. Cf. Clud n. 2. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 499.
All clocis vndir cloud of nycht thou cukkis 1573 Grant Chart. 153.
The tennentis … vndir scilence and cloude of nycht, brekis doun … the dykis 1588 Reg. Privy C. IV. 284.
[They had come] undir cloude and silence of nycht, aboute tuelff houris at evin, be way of brigancie … to the house of umquhile Robert M^cintailliour 1596 Highland P. I. 154.
Iohn Campbell of Caddell … came under silence and cloude of nicht bodin with ane lang hagbit 1615 Ib. III. 184.
The cuming in of Angus almost wnder clood of night and the message he broight 1641 Acts V. 677/1.
Iohne Dumbar … went vnder clowde of night … and … tirred the house 1676 Ayr & W. Coll. IV. 131.
He wes seen … thiftously stealing away corne, vnder cloud of nycht