Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CLATTER, v. Also claitter.
Sc. form of Eng. clatter.Slk. 1991 Harvey Holton in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 132:
Syne cauldrife claitteran the scree frae the summit
byles up the bluid wi the chaunce o a chase.
Meanings not found in Eng.
1. To gossip, talk scandal. Gen.Sc.n.Sc. 1714 R. Smith Poems 35:
When he thy head set up the water, On him thou did both ly and clatter.Lnk. 1926 W. Queen We're a' Coortin 27:
But there, maist weemin will clatter an' talk aboot their neebors.
Hence clatterer, a tale-bearer, a prattler (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff.2 1937; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
†2. “To chat, to talk familiarly” (Sc. 1808 Jam.).
3. Of birds (esp. the magpie): to chatter, chirp, caw (Bnff.2 1937). Gen. found as pr.p. or ppl.adj. clatt(e)rin'.Sc. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables frae the French 42:
Aroon a Hoolet, perch't in raws, There was a crood o' clatt'rin' craws.Knr. 1891 “H. Haliburton” Ochil Idylls 20:
The only kind o' beas' abroad Are dyucks rejoicin' i' the flud, An' pyots clatterin' i' the wud.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Sc. Poems (1925) 1:
Yence I could hear the lavrock's shrill-tun'd throat, And listen to the clatterin' gowdspink's note.
