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.
CLOOT, CLOUT, Clute, v.1 Also ¶clite (Ags. 1820 G. Beattie Poems (1882) 234), by misprint or confusion with Cloot, n.3. The instances of clout are here more numerous, but cloot is the reg. Sc. form. Clout is now arch. or dial. in Eng. Also vbl.n. clouting. [klut, klʌut]
1. To mend, patch (clothes). Also used fig. Ppl.adj. clootit, cloutit. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1737 Ramsay Proverbs 6:
An auld Sack craves muckle clouting.Abd.(D) 1920 C. Murray In the Country Places 22:
When it cam' to clout moleskins at nicht by the fire, Her mither did that.Mearns 1822 G. Menzies Poems (1854) 137:
Forby his breeks, the poet's saul Is yet but cloutit.wm.Sc. [1835–37] Laird of Logan (1868) 497:
Clootit and scant was the haill o' her cleedin.Lnk. 1881 A. Wardrop J. Mathison's Courtship, etc. 63:
I wish that John wad marry me, Fu' oft his breeks I've clootit.
2. To repair pots, cauldrons, etc.; to patch footwear, to strengthen (boots and shoes, the barrel of a ploughshare) with a thin metal plate, or with flat-headed nails. Ppl.adj. clouted. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1724–27 Ramsay T. T. Misc. (1733) 61:
For the love ye bear to me, Buy me a pair of shoon then. Clout the auld, the new are dear, Janet, Janet.Sc. 1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona xviii.:
A pair of clouted brogues in her hand.Abd.2 1936:
Clout the barrel o' my sock, smith; it's near-han' deen.Ags. 1836 J. Steele Tillygloom and other Pieces 10:
They clooted a' their neighbours' pans.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie's Wallet v.:
Fou stievely he clouts up auld broken-wind bellows.Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems, etc. 39:
Your maker was aye weel reputet For mony a carle's hoof he clutet.
Hence clouter, a patcher, a cobbler.Sc. 1862 A. Hislop Proverbs 105:
If he be na a souter, he's a gude shoe clouter.
Comb.: clootin' stool, the stool used by a cobbler when mending shoes.Sc. 1920 G. Blair in Dollar Mag. (March) 7:
I sattled doon Upon the clootin' stoo; whar noo I sit.
3. To clothe.Ayr. publ. 1892 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage, etc., and Poems 252:
Syne see him weary out his life On weans, to keep an' clout them.
