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.
Quotation dates: 1786-1825, 1890-1936
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CLOCKIN', CLOCKING, Clokin', vbl. n. Used with meanings corr. Clock, v.: the noise made by a brood hen; the act of hatching; the desire to brood or hatch. By extension: peace and quiet, freedom from disturbance or annoyance, decent treatment, a welcome (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.; Bnff. 1912; Mry. 1975), in phr. to get clokin. Applied fig. to persons: the disposition or desire to marry. [′klɔkɪn]Abd. 1923 H. Beaton Benachie 233:
He didna get kinley clokin'.Ags. 1825 Jam.2, clocking:
Transferred to a young female, who is light-headed, and rather wanton in her carriage. Of such a one it is sometimes said, "It were an amows [act of charity] to gie her a good doukin' in the water, to put the clockin' frae her."Ayr. 1890 J. Service Thir Notandums xvi.:
I was juist ance fairly led on to the ice, but it brak wi' me, and the clockin' gaed awa.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 138:
To scare them [hens] from clocking, gude wives plunge them into cold water.
Comb.: clockin-time, of birds: the time for hatching; of women: the period during which they are capable of child-bearing. Cf. cleckin' time s.v. Cleckin'.Bnff.2 1936:
I doot Bell's weel past clockin-time noo.Ayr. 1786 Burns Ep. to J. Rankine xi.:
As soon's the clockin-time is by, An' the wee powts begun to cry.
