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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CLEESH, Cleish, v. and n.¹ Also cleich. [kliʃ]

1. v.

(1) “To lash (a person) with a whip” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., cleesh).Sc.(E) 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws of the Marches xi.:
And cleish the flesh in slivers frae my back.Rxb. 1825 Jam.²:
Cleish, to whip. Hence, it is supposed, the fictitious name of the author of the Tales of my Landlord, Jedediah Cleishbotham, q[uasi] flog-bottom.

(2) “To crack (a whip)” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Hence cleesher, a “cracker.”Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
That whup's a guid cleesher.

2. n.

(1) A lash or stroke with a whip (Rxb. 1825 Jam.²; 1923 Watson W.-B.); a blow of any kind (Kcb.⁹ 1937). Also intensive cleisher.Sc.(E) 1925 “H. MacDiarmid” Sangschaw 12:
And owre't the forkit lichtnin' flees Like a cleisher o' a whup!

(2) “A cracking sound made by a whip” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).

Phr. to play cleish, to make a whip crack; to go with a clatter or crack.m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 269: 
I'll gae in afore ye, case ye play cleich owre onything, and break yer shins.Slk. 1893 W. Wathershanks 20: 
He played cleish at iz wi' a big whup. "Come out of that, you great clodhoppers," says he, gi'e'n' the whup another cleish.