Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CLASH, Klash, n.¹ Used as in St.Eng., but note the following extensions peculiar to Sc.

1. A blow, “a slap, or a collision of soft bodies” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., klash). Gen.Sc.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
“A clash on the side of the head”; a box on the ear.Gsw. 1884 H. Johnston Martha Spreull (1930) xiii.:
The next instant the heavy-fingert tawse labbit wi' a stingin' clash on Tammas' jawblade.Ayr. 1822 Galt The Provost x.:
A dead cat came whizzing through the air . . . and gave me such a clash in the face.

2. A mass of any soft or moist substance; anything very wet (Bnff.², Fif.¹⁰ 1937); a downpour (of rain) (Fif.¹⁰, Kcb.⁹ 1937). Also used fig.Inv. 1943 C. M. Maclean Three for Cordelia 11:
There will be many more cauld clashes before the true spring reaches the north.Ags. 1889 Brechin Advertiser (23 April) 3/4:
Mind weel yon plash, gae thro' the clash, An' be carefu' o' your claes.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood i.:
There was no clash of cauld morality in worthy Mr Macmichael.Ayr. 1830 Galt Southennan I. xxxv.:
A huge clash of mire was thrown.s.Sc. 1835–1840 J. M. Wilson Tales of the Borders (1857) IX. 56:
“What's brocht ye oot, woman,” said Willie, “in sic a clash o' rain as this?”

Phr.: as wat as a clash, sopping wet.Ayr. 1903 G. Cunningham Verse and Prose 58:
Claes, a' as wat as a clash.

3. (1) A large quantity, amount (Ags.¹, Kcb.⁹ 1937); ‡(2) a large number.(1) Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto Tammas Bodkin vii.:
Wha kens if there will be ony speakin' t' ye, ance ye get sic a clash o' siller in yer loof.Rnf. 1878 C. Fleming Poems, etc. 256:
He's a' a clash o' debt.Dmf. 1925 W. A. Scott in Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 21:
There was a clash o' hey got up yesterday.(2) Dmf. 1790 J. Fisher Poems 82:
I heard o' ane, wha had a clash O' laddies wooing at her.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
A clash o' sheep.

4. (1) Talk, gossip, tittle-tattle, scandal. Sometimes used in pl. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1718 Ramsay Chr. Kirk iii. x. in Poems (1721):
Wi' Clashes mingled aft wi' Lies.Sh.(D) 1877 G. Stewart Sh. Fireside Tales 5:
Dats ta say if da clash da folk has aboot you is no true.m.Sc. 1919 J. Buchan Mr Standfast iv.:
Tam will tell ye the whole clash o' the West Country.m.Sc. 1998 Lillias Forbes Turning a Fresh Eye 32:
A' soun', as weel, is stappit
By yon siller quine -
A' clash fae byre and barn
A' scart an scauld an girnwm.Sc. 1980 Anna Blair The Rowan on the Ridge 51:
He listened to the parish clash and talked with the minister and he was already making plans for the complete re-organisation of his ground. Uls. 1898 A. McIlroy Auld Meetin'-Hoose Green x.:
A' hae bin hearin' a guid dale o' clash an' nonsense, Mrs Sherpe, concernin' the quaestion o' a second merrige.

Hence clashy, given to gossip (Cai.⁷, Bnff.², Fif.¹⁰ 1937).s.Sc. 1933 J. Gillespie in Border Mag. (Dec.) 180:
They're clashy folk at the Plophills onywey.

(2) A tale, story (Abd.², Ags.¹, Fif.¹⁰ 1937).Sc. [1826] R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes (1870) 72:
I ken ye're fond o' clashes aboot fairies, bairns; and a story anent a fairy and the guidwife o' Kittlerumpit has joost come into my mind.

(3) “A voluble speaker; a female tattler” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Known to Fif.¹, Lnl.¹ (1937).w.Dmf. 1908 J. L. Waugh Robbie Doo (1912) vi.:
She gethered roon oor fireside o' a nicht . . . a' the clypes and clashes o' the toon — auld wives and young yins.

5. Used adverbially = with a “clash” or crash (used of soft or harsh sounds). Gen.Sc.Ags.(D) 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) xi.:
I was sittin' on Friday nicht, readin' awa' at some bits o' the Herald . . . when the shop door gaed clash back to the wa'.Rnf. 1792 A. Wilson Poems (1876) II. 21:
A dead cat's guts, before I cou'd suspect, Harl't thro the dirt, cam clash about my neck.Ayr.⁴ 1928:
Doon a' fell clash in the glaur.