Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CLAUCHER, Clacher, Clagher, v. [′klǫxər, ′klɑxər]
†1. With up: to grab, snatch at.Upper Lnk. 1825 Jam.2:
“He claucherit up the siller,” he snatched the money with covetous eagerness.
†2. “To use both hands and feet in rising to stand or walk” (Ib.).
‡3. “To move onwards or get along with difficulty and slowly, in a clumsy, trailing, loose manner” (Lth. 1825 Jam.2, clacher, clagher); with to or till: to stagger feebly towards (a desired object). Lnl.1 (1937) says: now rare. Gen. used fig.Lnk. 1825 Jam.2:
“For a' sae weak, he claucherit to his parritch though,” i.e. notwithstanding his debility, he made a good breakfast.Ib.:
Speaking of an infirm man, who has married in his old age, a Lanarkshire peasant would be very apt to say, “Though his mouth be fast gaün to the mules, yet the body has claucherit till a wife.”
