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: 1789-1827, 1900-1973
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CLUTHER, Cludder, Clooter, n. and v. Also ¶clowder; kyatter (with vocalised l (Kcb. 1960). See P.L.D. §93.7). Sc. forms and meanings of Eng. clutter. Where the form clutter is illustrated, the meaning is peculiar to Sc. [′klʌθər, ′klʌðər, ′klʌdər, ′klutər]
1. n.
(1) A heap.Kcb.4 1900:
A woman wearing many skirts was said to hae a hantle or kyatter o' claes aboot her.Gall.(D) 1901 Trotter Gall. Gossip 306:
He turn't up the whites o' his een, an swarf't wi perfect horror, an fell a' in a cluther in the middle o' the floor. [Ib. 414, cludder.]
(2) "A piece of bad stone building, particularly if it be 'dry ware wark'" (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 139, clutter). Cf. Clather, n., 1, and Cloiter, n., 2.Gall. 1827 Curriehill:
An ill-built stone wall is called a clooter o' stanes.
(3) A close group; disordered crowd. N.E.D. gives clutter, crowded and confused assemblage, as Eng., but last quot. is 1792.m.Sc. 1931 J. Ressich in Glasgow Herald (8 Aug.):
The seendykit wis a' gaithert aboot at the last green yonder; the maist disjasket-lookin' lot ever ye seen. Jist like a clutter o' drookit hens.wm.Sc. 1973 Scotsman (1 Sept.) Suppl. 2:
A flat basin, containing milk, had been put out at milking time for the clowder of tortoiseshell cats at the farm.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 20:
Upo' the bent The whigs cam on in cluthers.Kcb.4 c.1900:
A wheen hooses standin' in close proximity is called a cluther o' hooses.
†2. v. "To conceal, to cover, huddle up" (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.).Kcb. 1797 R. Buchanan Poems 137:
A man wha frae his vera youth, In word an' deed nae moral truth Did cluther or disguise.
