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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

KLEBER, n. Also claber, clebber, kleeber. Steatite, soapstone (Sh. 1960). Cf. Clemmel, Bairdal. Also attrib. [′klebər, ′kli-]Sh. 1774 G. Low Tour (1879) 133:
Near Hilswick was shewn in the rock a large vein of a fattish kind of stone, called here Claber, used in many cases as a medicine, especially in excoriations of children, the small pox, etc.Sh. 1806 P. Neill Tour 164:
The serpentine is called kleber by the natives who use it as an excellent substitute for metallic oxides in ointments.Sh. 1834 Old-Lore Misc. X. v. 214:
The Kleber Gio . . . is so called from the abundance of steatite which it contains.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl. 110:
A small spindle, about a foot long, with a notch at the upper end of it to which the thread is fixed, and a kleeber whorl at the lower end to act as a fly-wheel.Sh. 1939 A. C. O'Dell Hist. Geog. Sh. 174:
Soapstone . . . is found near Everland at Fetlar. It is characteristically soft and easily fashioned and is known as “kleber”. The Shetland soapstone is a reddish brown talcose schist.Sh. 1957 J. Stewart Sh. Archaeology 6:
Steatite (or “kleeber”, “klemmel”, talc, soapstone) was used commonly to make pots and also to mix with clay for pots.