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.
Quotation dates: 1839-1938, 1995-1999
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CLOCHER, CLOUGHER, n. and v.1 Gen.Sc. [′klɔxər]
1. n.
(1) Sometimes in pl.: "mucous matter which is coughed out of the throat; thick phlegm" (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 137; Rs., Mry., Bnff. 1980s; Edb., Ayr. 2000s); bronchial mucus (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 26).Gall. 1901 Trotter Gall. Gossip 3:
A'm fit tae be chokit wi' the clocher an' the floam!
(2) "A rough or wheezing cough" (Mry. 1928 W. Clarke W.-L.).Sc. 1936 J. G. Horne Flooer o' the Ling 16:
Guid save the cuif that gets her tocher! He'll need it a' to staun' her clocher.Cai.9 1938:
There's a sair clocher wi' ye.Ags. 1893 Arbroath Guide (15 April) 3/7:
Ye'll just be plagued again wi' yon clocher o' a host.Lnk. 1928 H. Lauder Roamin' in the Gloamin' i.:
Stagger up the gangway with "mony a cough an' clocher."Slk. 1839 in Lord Cockburn Journal (1874) I. 244:
Ye may gang to their kirk the haill year round without hearing either a clocher or a hoast.Tyr. 1931 "Clone" in North. Whig (17 Dec.) 10/6:
She had had a brash, and still had a clougher and was doncey.
2. v. "To cough frequently, with a large defluxion of phlegm, and copious expectoration" (Sc. 1825 Jam.2); "to have a hard, dry, irritating cough" (Cai.9 1938). Ppl.adj. clochrin'.Cai. 1930 "Caithness Forum" in John o' Groat Jnl. (31 Jan.):
If hid wisna 'at A wis clocherin' wi' 'e cauld A wid gien til 'e Reay concert.Abd. 1921 W. Walker W.-L.:
He's aye clocherin' an' beochin there.Abd. 1995 Flora Garry Collected Poems 13:
He bocht aal wizzent horse an kye
An scrimpit muck an seed;
Syne, clocherin wi a craichly hoast,
He dwine't awaa, an dee'd. Ags. 1999 Courier 20 Jan :
"A lady, describing an irritating cough, said she had a 'nesty tickly clocherin' hoast' and after a sleepless night said she had 'rowled an' tum'led an' better tum'led'."Fif. 1864 W.D. Latto Tammas Bodkin xxv.:
I hechle, an' clocher, an' toyt but an' ben, Like a puir feckless grandsire o' three score an' ten.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie's Wallet (1875) ix.:
The bluid in your auld veins is thin . . . Close to the ribs ye hirsel in Wi' clochrin' whaizle.
