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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 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CLABBYDHU, Clabbydoo, Clubbydoo, Clubadoo, n. Also ¶clappiedoo (Cld. 1890 Scots Mag. (Sept.) 306), clappy doo. “Black bivalve, a large mussel still quite familiar on the lower Clyde estuary” (Arg. 1909 Colville 116); the horse mussel, Modiolus modiolus (Arg.1 1931); “a huge mussel known in Greenock in 1870 and found still” (Rnf. 1936 (per Slg.3), clubadoo).wm.Sc. 1983 Christine Marion Fraser Children of Rhanna (1989) 284:
'Will you be havin' a clappy doo wi' me, lassie?' he asked, indicating a driftwood fire on which sat a can filled to the brim with large mussels.
Arg. c.1850 D. Macilreavie Flory Loynachan in Colville (1909) 116:
O, the Clabbydhu, it loves the Trinch, The Crouban, the quay-neb. . . . But, Flory, I love thee!
Arg. 1940 "J. Bridie" in Letter (6 Jan.):
A "clabbydoo" is a coarse type of clam found on Loch Fyne side. It is shaped roughly like an oyster and buries itself in sandy shingle. It is edible only when it has been boiled.
Gsw. (Clydeside) 1939 “J. Bridie” One Way of Living 33:
He could always find time . . . to find us clubbydooes and mussels.
Gsw. 1987 Peter Mason C'mon Geeze Yer Patter! 28:
2 punna aipples.
Hauf-a-dizzen tattie scones.
A jaur a clappy doos.
2 boatles a ginger.
A punna mince.

[Prob. from Gael. clab, an enormous mouth, and dubh, black, dark (MacLennan).]

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