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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.

CLOOT, CLOUT, n.2 and v.  [klut, klʌut]

I. n. 1. “A blow” (Cai.1 c.1920), a slap with the open hand. MacTaggart, in Gallov. Encycl. (1824) 138, gives “a slight blow.” Clout is dial. or vulgar in Mod.Eng. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1724–27 Ramsay T. T. Misc. (1733) 22:
Did Sandy hear ye, Ye wadna miss to get a Clout, I ken he disna fear ye.Abd.(D) 1916 G. Abel Wylins frae my Wallet 24:
Noo a cuddle, noo a cloot, Lauchin', froonin', time aboot.Ags. 1867 G. W. Donald Poems, etc. 33:
An' tho' they get some cuffs an' cloots, They ne'er let on they get it.Lnk. 1925 W. Queen in Stirling Observer (29 Sept.):
If yin o' them daur to snash or girn, their lugs I gie a cloot.

2. The result of a blow, the swelling or sore caused by the impact.m.Sc. 1922 J. Buchan Huntingtower x.:
Mr Heritage will have the whole pack on him in that old Tower, and him with such a sore clout on his head.

II. v. To strike, slap, cuff. Lnk. 1928 W. C. Fraser Yelpin' Stane 84: 
I'll cloot your chafts for ye.

[O.Sc. has clout, a heavy blow, earliest date 1566 (D.O.S.T.); Mid.Eng. clowte, a.1400, from cloute, v., c.1314. N.E.D. and Un. Eng. Dict. consider this the same word as Cloot, n.1, while Chambers develops it from the rag shot at by archers to the shot itself, then to a blow. For a possible connection with Eng. clod, however, see note to Cloot, v.2]

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