Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CLACHNACUDDIN, n. Also Clachnacuidin, -en; ¶Clachna Cuttin (Inv. 1768 C. F. Mackintosh Antiq. Notes (1913) 222). A soubriquet of Inverness (Inv. 1825 Jam., 1840 J. Noble Misc. Inv. (1902) 188, 1904 H. Foulis Erchie 111). One of Inverness's football teams is so-called. Clach-na-cudainn (Gael. “the stone of the tubs”) is a large stone on which the townswomen rested their water tubs on their way from the River Ness, now built into the Market Cross and looked on as a kind of badge of the town. [klɑxnɑ′kudn] In phr.: to drink to Clachnacuidin, “to drink prosperity to the town of Inverness; Clachnacuidin being a stone at the well in the market-place of that burgh” (Inv. 1825 Jam.2).
[Gael. clach, a stone, + na, of the, + cùdainn, a large tub (see Cood, n.2).]
