Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1866-1936
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CLORACH, Claroch, Cloroch, Cleurach, Clairach, Cleerich, v. and n. [′klɔrəx, ′kle(:)rəx' ′kl(j)u:rəx ne.Sc., but Bnff. + ′kli:rəx; ′klɑrəx Kcb.]
I. v.
1. "To work in a dirty, slovenly fashion" (Mry.1 1914; Abd.2, Ags.1 1936), esp. amongst liquids or slimy things. E.D.D. gives cleurach and clairach for Bnff. "expressing a greater degree of disgust, accompanied by impatience."Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 26:
She wiz clorachin', an' cleanin' a chuckin.
2. With prep. wi' (wee): to fuss over a sick person or animal, to lavish excessive care. Also vbl.n. cleerichin.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 27:
Fin a geed into the hoose, she wiz clorachin' wee that lazy hurb o' a loon. A wyte there's nae muckle the maitter wee im.Bnff.2 1930:
Yon bairn's nae thrivin', an' I'm nae surprised at it, for the mither ha'ds a sad cleerichin wi't.
3. To clear the throat noisily, to hawk (Abd.19, Ags.1 1936).Mry.2 1935:
He's aye clorachin' an' spittin'.
4. "To sit over the fire in a lazy manner, with the idea of bad health in the person so doing; as, 'Gae 'wa' oot, an' nae be eye sittin', an clorachin' our the fire'" (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 26).Bnff.2 1936:
Yon lazy hullock sits an' clorachs owre the fire fin she sid be reddin' up her hoose.
Hence clorachin', adj., (1) "asthmatic; sickly; having a broken constitution" (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 27); (2) "lazy and dirty at work" (Ib.).(1) Bnff.2 1936:
Kirsty's nae ower strong yet; she's aye bather't wi' a clorachin' caul at her breest.(2) Bnff.2 1936:
Peter wiz aye an eeseless, lazy, clorachin' breet.
II. n. A disgusting mass of anything, e.g. a clorach o' dubs; "any surface coated with a viscid substance" (Kcb.4 c.1900; Bnff., Abd., Edb. 2000s); "mucus" (Abd.7 1925).Deriv. clorachie, sticky, messy (Bnff., Abd. 2000s).Bnff.6 c.1920:
What kin' o' a cloroch's that?Bnff.2 1936:
Peer John hiz nithing bit a clorach o' caul' porridge wytin him fin he comes in fae a sair day's wark.Abd.9 1936:
The road in aboot t' Mains is jist a clorach o' dubs.Kcb.4 c.1900:
When roads are very muddy they are said to be in a claroch.
