Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
CLEY, Cly, n. and v. Sc. forms of Eng. clay. [klei Sc.; Ayr., Lnl. + klaɪ, Abd., Fif., Slg., Arg., Kcb. + kləi]
I. n.wm.Sc. 1897 H. Hendry Burns from Heaven 37:
Till e'en the Session are as cley, And he the pottar!Lnk. 1923 in G. Rae Langsyne in Braefoot iii.:
An' noo thae weans are men Plooin the cley-bund rigs o' hame Within this peacefu' glen.Dwn. 1844 R. Huddleston Poems and Songs 15:
The work on forderin', went the jokin', The aul' cly hallun shook wi' la'ghin'.
II. v. intr. with up: to fall silent, to shut up, freq. in imper. Gen.Sc. slang. Cf. Clay, v.Gsw. 1935 Sc. One Act Plays (Reid) 83:
For Jamie Johnstone's sake cley up.
