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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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CLEVER, CLIVER, Clivver, Cluvver, adj. Also kliver. Sc. meanings and forms of Eng. clever. [′klɛvər, ′klɪvər, ′klʌvər]

Sc. forms:Sc. 1993 Kathleen Jamie in Joy Hendry Chapman 74-5 79:
Stick in
with the homework and you'll be
cliver like yer faither.
but no too cliver,
no above yersel. Sc. 1997 Scotsman 26 Sep 21:
We had tae look after Tonald; the laddie was a wee bit blate and the sheepies were awfy clivver in thae days.ne.Sc. 2003 Press and Journal 24 Nov 12:
A clivver meeve, I suppose, bit I dinna ken fit the viewers wid o made o the seat alang side me wi the brass plate: Presented bi the Townswomen's Guild of Aberdeen.

Sc. usages:

1. Swift, quick, speedy (Cai.⁷, Abd.², Slg.³, Kcb.⁹ 1937; kliver (Ork. 1960). Used adverbially in fifth quot.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 83, 106:
I shuurly wisna kliver anyoch, fur shu reesilled me ower laek a bag o' wylks. . . . My kliverest wye hame 'ill be ower da hill.Mry.(D) 1894 J. Slater Seaside Idylls (1898) 82:
We're juist as anxious tae get deen as ye are, an' we're as cliver's we can.Arg.¹ 1936:
Often used to youngsters when sent on an errand: "Noo, be cluvver an' no waste time on the rod."Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 42:
Whan I [a rat] gat clear o't, by my fegs, I made twa pair o' cliver legs.Lnk. 1881 A. Wardrop J. Mathison's Courtship, etc. 90:
I'll cross the parks, I ken the airt, You'll find that I'll be there fu' clever.

Hence cleverly, adv., quickly, readily; cleverness, speed, alacrity.Sc. 1824 J. E. Shortreed in Cornhill Mag. (Sept. 1932) 272–273:
I pointed to where Jamie stude, but he coudna take him up cleverly for the throng.s.Sc. 1839 Wilson's Tales of the Borders IV. 170:
Lest ony hasty-minded, sanguine individual, should suppose that that cleverness, or nimbleness, had ony connection with the alacrity of joy.

2. "In good health" (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), still so used (Bwk. 1950). Also in Eng. dial. (E.D.D.).

3. Handsome, well-made, fine-looking (Cai.⁷ 1937). Also found in Eng. dial.Sc. 1869 R. Chambers Hist. Rebellion 44, Note:
I was detached to Ardnamurchan to recruit, and soon returned with fifty clever fellows.Edb. 1821 W. Liddle Poems 39:
Lookin' out for dunty clever, Just as brisk an' keen as ever.Uls. 1901 J. W. Byers in North. Whig:
A fine-looking, tall man is "clever."

4. Generous, liberal, ample.Uls. 1901 J. W. Byers in North. Whig:
If you ask a man you meet on the road the distance to some town, he will say, "four miles, cliver, or lucky" — that is, the distance is more than the miles named.Uls. c.1920 J. Logan Ulster in the X-Rays (2nd ed.) vi.:
A man may be described as "clever" with his money, or even a coat may be "clever," meaning it has been cut "big and full."

5. "Eloquent, fluent of speech" (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.); garrulous. Not known to our correspondents.Edb. 1870 J. Lauder Warblings 57:
For the smith is clever, And they like his haver, And there's nane wad dae him ill.

6. Good (of persons and things) (Cai.⁷, Fif.¹⁰, Lnl.¹, Kcb.⁹ 1937).Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 15:
I did thon at schule an Miss McTavish wis in a fine rage an said, "Bobby Ross, You stop thon! It's nae clivver tae makk a feel a big leddies."Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick xiii.:
There were three fields o't, weel fenced an' drained, lyin bonny to the sun, an' clever land.Kcb. 1895 S. R. Crockett Bog-Myrtle and Peat Tales 40:
Lie doon on yer bed like a clever lass.

7. In phr. clean an(d) clever (cliver), completely.Sc. 1925 W. Stewart in Scots Mag. (Jan.) 279:
Daver-ma-skin, Saunders, gin I hinna, clean an' clever, forgotten a' aboot that confoondit Droggist's fortin makker!Uls. 1901 J. W. Byers Lecture III. in North. Whig:
I would rather be clean and cliver out of town than live in the suburbs.