Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1898-1933
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‡CLACKAN, Clacken, n. "A wooden hand-bat or racquet used by the boys at the Edinburgh Academy and High School" (Edb. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.). Known to Slg.3 c.1875. In earlier use = a shuttlecock (Sc. 1787 J. Elphinstone Propriety II. 192). See note to Cleckinbrod and Cleckin, n.2 The word is still in use.Sc. 1898 E. Blantyre Simpson R. L. Stevenson 151:
He ran off to his task, rasping his clacken on the area railings as he went . . . clackens were put to their orthodox use in brief play intervals.Sc. publ. 1922 R. L. Stevenson New Poems 448:
The roll-book is closed in the room, The clackan is gone with the slate.Sc. 1933 E. S. Haldane Scotland of our Fathers 53:
All would be armed with "clackans," wooden bats suitable for playing shinty or "hails," or hitting other boys' heads.
