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.
CLECK, Collec', v.1, tr. and intr. Sc. forms of Eng. collect. Watson in Rxb. W.-B. (1923) gives the form cleck. [klɛk, kə′lɛk]Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick iv.:
“Wheesht, wumman, wheesht,” says I; “hoo's a body to collec' his thochts, an' your tongue gaun like a pen gun?” Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 9:
At last, the hinmaist eggie wis colleckit an the loons gaed inno an ootlyin steadin far Neil's faither keepit his snares an ither trock.
Hence cleckin, cleckeen, a large gathering (of people), a crowd.Kcb.1 1936:
There's an awfu' cleckin o' weans aboot the door.Rxb.(D) 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes an Knowes 21:
A cleckeen o guidweives at a gairdeen-yett whuttert ti other whan they eyed iz.
