Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CLAVER, CLIVVER, Claiver, n.2 [′kle:vər Sc., but Abd. ′klɪvər]
1. Sc. forms of Eng. clover. Also used attrib.Abd.(D) 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 55:
Aw wis some short wi' ma clivver seed.Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems II. 84:
Poor maukin, down the mountain side, Right tim'rous, to the claver hied.
Hence claivery, covered with clover.Ags. 1905 D. L. Duncan Hameart Rhymes 26:
He airts me atower by the green broomy knowes An' doun by the claivery leas.
2. “Bird's-foot Trefoil” (Ant. 1881 Science Gossip 278), Lotus corniculatus.
[O.Sc. claver, clever, id. Claver was the reg. form in Mid.Eng. till it began to be supplanted by clover in the 17th cent. O.Sc. clever, rare Mid.Eng. clevre, is the ancestor. of the Abd. form.]
