Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CLEIT, n. Also clait, and deriv. cleytan (see note). A small dry-stone structure used for drying peats and as a storehouse for food on St Kilda.Sc. 1878 Trans. Highl. Soc. 251:
All over the hillsides are the claits or small buildings where the turf is stored away to dry during the frosts of winter, and from which they carry it home on their backs as it may be required. w.Sc. 1884 Trans. Inv. Scientific Soc. III. 86:
We observed great numbers of cleytans, and bee-hive stone-built cow byres. w.Sc. 1963 Abd. Press and Jnl. (7 June):
They will spend their time doing survey work and repairing the ravages of the weather on the cleits, earth and stone structures used as refrigerators to preserve the sea birds which were their staple diet.
[Gael. cleit, pl. cleitean, a peathouse.]
