Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CLOINT, Klont, n.
1. “A lump; piece of wood, esp.: (a) log of wood, a klont o' wood; a piece of wood, badly hewn; a klont o' a tree; (b) a shapeless stone, a klont o' a sten” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
2. “A corpulent, clumsy person; an obese, dull person, a klont o' a fellow” (Ib.); also used of a clumsy animal (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., cloint).
[Prob., as Jak. suggests, the same as Dan. klunt, a log of wood, clumsy person, which is prob. from M.L.Ger. klunte, lump, mass (cf. Du. klont, lump) (Falk and Torp s.v. kluntet and klint).]
