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.
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.
