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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.

Clift, Clyft, n.² [ME. clift (c 1300), clyft, related to Cleve v.¹]

1. A long (cleft or sawn) piece of wood.See also Quarter clift. 1471 Acts II. 100/1.
That na merchandis … bryng speris in this realme out of ony vthir cuntre, bot gif thai conten sex eln and of a [= one] clyft 1523 Treas. Acc. V. 219.
For ane estland burde, … for sawing of it in foure cliftis 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 325.
Twa cliftis of ane tre, to be mattok schaftis 1563–4 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 188.
To the sauaris for sawing of thre dussoun of thir sparris in foure clift, ilk clift iij d. 1633 M. Works Acc. XXVII. 20.
For sawin of thrie great spares in cliftis and four dailles 1699 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 326.
To writt to Hamburgh for so much vanscotdaills, clifts and trees as will be necessar for erecting … ane loft to the magistrats

2. A cleft or crevice in a wall, etc. 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 238.
The sparrow chyrmys in the wallis clyft Ib. xiii. iv. 68.
Lyke as that emottis … Had beldit, vnder the ruyt of a heich tre, Intill a clift thar byke

3. The parting of the thighs. Cf. Cleving n. c1500 Crying of Play 49.
He had a wyf was lang [B. mekle] of clift