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.
CLARK, v. and adj. Sc. form and usages of St.Eng. clerk. The Eng. form is illustrated only in a special Sc. usage.
1. v. (1) To write, compose (Mry.2 1885; Abd.19 1937).Sc. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xxi.:
Twa lines o' Davie Lindsay wad ding a' he ever clerkit.Mry.(D) 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sketches xvi.:
“Ay,” said Macwhirter . . . “Weelum's gettin' up in the warl' wi's dask. Fat think ye wis he clarkin' on?” “I don't know,” said I. “Ou, jeist a bit buirdie laid across twa bags o' taties.”
(2) tr. To record in writing, to enter up in a book (Ork., ne.Sc. 1975).Fif. 1841 C. Gray Lays 198:
'Tis by thy help that cash is clarkit.Ayr. 1786 Burns Vision i. v.:
Or strutted in a bank and clarket My cash-account.
2. adj. Scholarly.Ags. 1869 W. Pyott Poems and Songs (1885) 112:
Ye tochered chiel's sae learned an' clark I fear ye're sair to blame.Ayr. publ. 1808 Burns Elegy on Ruisseaux (Cent. ed.) iii.:
But tell him, he was learned and clark, Ye roos'd him then!
