Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CLAPSHOT, n. “A dish consisting of potatoes and turnips boiled separately and mashed together” (Cai.⁸ 1934; Cai.⁷ 1937; Sh., Ork., Bnff., Edb., Gsw., Ayr. 2000s); “a Hallowe'en dish composed of mashed potatoes, turnips, cream, pepper, etc.” (Cai.⁹ 1938). (See also quots. and F. M. McNeill Scots Kitchen (1929) 148.)Sc. 1990 Catherine Brown From Broth to Bannocks: Cooking in Scotland from 1690 to the present day 81:
But I am quite happy, instead, with a week's supply of Sharps Express and some Records and a large yellow turnip. A much better idea than the fennel for these, after all, are the islands which have made clapshot, the special combination of mashed potato and turnip, into a universal Scottish favourite.Ork. 1920 J. Firth Reminisc. Ork. Par. (1922) 98:
For supper, kail or turnips boiled with pared potatoes were mashed together, and . . . eaten with bere bannocks. This vegetarian dish bore the curious name of “clapshot.”Ork. 1933 Daily Mirror (27 March) 17:
The islanders call it clapshot. It is very tasty, and few people have any conception of the difference it makes mashing the two vegetables together.Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 85:
Police Constable Timothy Cursiter was making short work of an appetising lunch of steak and clapshot ... Ork. 1957 Ronald Miller ed. The Third Statistical Account of Scotland: The county of Orkney (1985) 26:
A Harvest Home or 'muckle supper' is held after the crops are gathered. At these suppers some old-fashioned dishes such as 'clapshot' - turnips and potatoes, boiled and mashed together and seasoned with pepper, salt and butter - are served.Ork. 1995 Orcadian 2 Nov 14:
And now comes in the clapshot season too, when the neeps are ready to mell with the tatties, and a golden wedge of butter to crown and mell with all.Fif. 1985 Christopher Rush A Twelvemonth and a Day 35:
Or she turned the tatties into a meal in themselves by beating them in with turnips and onions and lashings of pepper, whipping them into an explosive mixture which she called clapshot.Edb. 1988 Edinburgh Advertiser 30 Jan :
Gaelic singers - Marina and Donnie McLeod and Calum Ross - will be guest artists at a "Clapshot" Ceilidh at 8pm on Saturday 30th January at the West End Hotel, Palmerston Place. Tickets at door, £2 (including a serving of clapshot).Edb. 1994 Douglas McKenzie in James Roberston A Tongue in Yer Heid 2:
Any hoosekeepin she got wis spent by Monday. The rest of the week we ate sheepsheid broth an clapshot.