Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CLIBBER, Klibber, Cliber, Clubber, n. [′klɪbər ɪSc.; Cai. + ′klʌbəɹ]

1. A wooden pack-saddle, used in Sh., Ork. and Cai. This consists of two boards (one on each side of the horse's back) to the middle of which are attached two projecting “horns” of wood crossing each other and fastened together by a bolt or pin. On these “horns” the creels or cassies are hung, one on each side to preserve the balance. Marw. (1929) says “now obsolete.” Marw. and Jak. give the form klibber, the form clubber is found in Stat. Acc.¹ (1795) X. 23 for Cai., and clubbar is given by J. Henderson in Gen. View Agric. Sth. (1812) 60.Sh.(D) 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 9:
Me very luggs hae a ratlin' soond inta dem; hit pits me amind o' da clatter o' clibbers apon a mare whin shü's hungry an' maks for trumpin [flinging].Ork. 1734 Ork. Inventory in Ork. Antiq. Soc. (1923) 65:
It. five new burrows, three old burrows, Eighteen pair sufficient Creills, Eighteen Clibers.Cai. 1916 Old Cai. Croft in John o' Groat Jnl. (14 April):
The crubbans had a “clibber” for saddle.

Comb. clibber brods, the flat boards forming part of the saddle (Ork. 1975); also transf. of old worn flat-soled slippers (Ork. 1973 Orcadian (8 July)).

2. “Part of the harness of an ox” (Cai.⁸ 1934, clubber).