Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2005 (SND, online supplement).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CLENNY, n. The cleansing department. Also attrib. (Gsw. 2000s).Gsw. 1971 Stephen Mulrine in Hamish Whyte Noise and Smoky Breath (1983) 86:
bit thuv timmed oot the watter, fur chuckies an taur,
jis cowped the Kinawl fulla slag, ten a penny,
an wheecht aw the luckies away tae the Clenny,
in hunners.Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 17:
Clenny, the The Corporation Cleansing Department: 'I hear you got a job with the Clenny.' A bin-lorry is sometimes referred to as a Clenny-motor.Sc. 1992 Herald 4 Jul 21:
A Da in the Clenny being in an excellent position to bring home old radiograms and bashed bikes, we had rather thought ourselves lucky.Sc. 2001 Herald 1 Dec 3:
"They wanted to put me back a year before I was kicked out." Instead, he went to work for the cooncil's clenny department, a not unpredicted entry into the world of employment.
