Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1826
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CLUMSY, adj. Sc. usage in comb. ¶clumsy tea, high tea, tea with a cooked dish accompanying (see quot.).Rnf. 1826 Galt Last of the Lairds MS. (N.L.S.):
Generally among the country gentry of Renfrewshire “clumsy tea” was dispensed with—by clumsy tea I should explain for the benefit of the reader is meant a very substantial meal of jellies marmalades short bread puffs cookies the cheese and ham always appear and at the time of the killing of the mart cowheel with tripe and onions are sometimes superadded.
[The expression is found only in Galt and may be a nonce substitute for tousie tea id. (see Tousie, 5.). For a similar metaphor cf. Ruch, adj., 3.]
