Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1714, 1773, 1891-1926, 1991
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CLATTER, v. Also claitter.
Sc. form of Eng. clatter.Slk. 1991 Harvey Holton in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 132:
Syne cauldrife claitteran the scree frae the summit
byles up the bluid wi the chaunce o a chase.
Meanings not found in Eng.
1. To gossip, talk scandal. Gen.Sc.n.Sc. 1714 R. Smith Poems 35:
When he thy head set up the water, On him thou did both ly and clatter.Lnk. 1926 W. Queen We're a' Coortin 27:
But there, maist weemin will clatter an' talk aboot their neebors.
Hence clatterer, a tale-bearer, a prattler (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff.2 1937; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
†2. “To chat, to talk familiarly” (Sc. 1808 Jam.).
3. Of birds (esp. the magpie): to chatter, chirp, caw (Bnff.2 1937). Gen. found as pr.p. or ppl.adj. clatt(e)rin'.Sc. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables frae the French 42:
Aroon a Hoolet, perch't in raws, There was a crood o' clatt'rin' craws.Knr. 1891 “H. Haliburton” Ochil Idylls 20:
The only kind o' beas' abroad Are dyucks rejoicin' i' the flud, An' pyots clatterin' i' the wud.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Sc. Poems (1925) 1:
Yence I could hear the lavrock's shrill-tun'd throat, And listen to the clatterin' gowdspink's note.
