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.
CLEEK, n.2 A term applied to Aberdeen weavers taking jobs in the Dundee mills.Ags. 1870 W. Buchanan Olden Days in Aberdeen Preface vii.:
The Dundee folks did not like to see so many Aberdeen “cleeks,” as they called them, coming to take up their spare jobs. . . . When they arrived . . . the Dundonians would say by way of banter, “Ye'll better look oot, there's a curn mair cleeks come the day.”
