Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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CLOCK, Cloak, Klok, n.¹ and v. Also unusual variant cloch. Also found in n.Eng. dials. (E.D.D.). See also Clockin', vbl.n. [klɔk Sc., but m.Sc. + klok, klɔx]

I. n.

1. "The cry or noise made by hens when they wish to sit on eggs, for the purpose of hatching" (Rxb. 1825 Jam.²; 1923 Watson W.-B.). Known to Cai.⁷, Abd.²², Ags.², Edb.¹, Lnk.³, Kcb.¹ 1937.

2. Applied to a person: "a croaker" (Cai.⁹ 1939, clock).

II. v. Gen.Sc.

1. To make the noise of a brood hen. Eng. cluck. Used fig. in quot.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage, etc. 59:
When wi' glancin' han' and pow It [the kettle] sits clockin o'er the low — Oh! the goudspink on the timmer Is naething to thy simmer.

2. Of birds: to brood, sit on eggs, hatch.

(1) intr.Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 230:
"Maybe they'll clock, like hens, dae they?" "Yes; I could name a serpent that enfolds its eggs for two months, and eats nothing."Abd. 1928 J. Baxter A' Ae 'Oo' 14:
Fan hens that shud be layin' 's clockin'.Edb. 1895 J. Tweeddale Moff ix.:
But I wud hae them tae lay better and cloak less.Wgt. 1877 G. Fraser Council of Crows in Sketches, etc. of Wgt. 184:
We're not to flit this term, so we may gang on wi' oor wark — you mither-birds clockin' as usual.

(2) tr.Sc. 1714 Kirkton's Hist. Ch. Scot. (Sharpe 1817) Pref. xx.:
A hen belonging to him, when a cloaking.Per. 1990 Betsy Whyte Red Rowans and Wild Honey (1991) 135:
Uncle Andy had a bantam hen which had sat clocking two goose's eggs, and was now endeavouring to mother her strange wee brood.Dmb. 1794 D. Ure Agric. Dmb. 70:
They were immediately set under a cloaking hen.Rnf. 1815 W. Finlayson Simple Sc. Rhymes 14:
Nae mair he'll tell how Ostrich eggs Are clocket amang stanes and seggs.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 133:
Ye micht at least hae the gumption . . . to byde till the eggs were clockit.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 117:
The wa'fu' ra'en Must, ere she clock them, travel to the east.

Hence (1) clockin, clocken, strong pa.p., sat upon; (2) clockin', klokkin, ppl.adj., brooding, disposed to hatch (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., klokkin); (3) clocher, a brood-hen. Used fig. in quot. See also Clocking Hen.(1) Kcb.⁶ 1914:
Eggs long sat upon are "hard-clockin (clocken)" or "clockin hard."(2) Sh.(D) 1899 J. Spence Sh. Folk-Lore 240:
Da klaag o' wir klokkin flukner waukened me.Gall. c.1870 J. Heughan in Bards of Gall. (ed. Harper 1889) 238:
Love owre him sits like clockin' doo.(3) Slk. 1829 Hogg Shepherd's Calendar II. 13:
The Snaw-fleck sits busy in the neuk, as sleek as a kinnen [rabbit], and the auld clocher fornent her admiring and misca'ing her a' the time.

3. Fig.: (1) "To sit idly by the fire" (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., obsol.; also Cai.⁷, Abd.² 1937); to sit for a long time; to crouch; (2) to "hatch" (of a project, etc.); (3) of persons: to desire marriage (with someone).(1) Mry.(D) 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sketches xvi.:
It wis fae her 'at Meg borra't the cosy. . . . A heard the neebors lauchin' aboot hoo Meg keepit it clockin' on the teapot on the bink owre near the fire an' scaum't it a'.Bwk. [1826] R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes (1870) 119:
A' the lads o' our town clockin' in a shell.Ayr. 1833 Galt The Joke ii. in Fraser's Mag. (Sept.):
Dinna be cloching on addled eggs: what has tou to do with a lodger?Kcb. 1893 S. R. Crockett Stickit Minister 144:
It's better than sittin' clockin' an' readin'.(2) Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 40:
This new schule . . . was now at length clockit, and carried to maturity.(3) Lnl.¹ 1936:
When asked of the progress of a love affair, they answer: "Oh, they're fair clockin' noo."

III. Comb.: kloksmidder, "a hen with chickens" (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1950, clocksmither).