Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
Quotation dates: 1786-1936
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CLUNK, Klunk, Glunk, Glownk, Glonk, n.1 and v.1 Cf. Clowk. [klʌŋk Sc., but Ork. + glʌŋk, Cai. + glʌŋk, glʌuŋk]
I. n.
1. A hollow, gurgling sound made by liquid, e.g. the water under a boat, liquid shaken up in a container which is not quite full, or poured out of a narrow-necked bottle, etc. (Abd.19, Ags.1, Lnk.3 1936); "a dull clanking sound" (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., klunk), as of bones; "sound made in throat when a quantity of liquid is hastily swallowed" (Ork. 1929 Marw., klunk, glunk).Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 123:
The cheek banes, or the jaw banes, I never could mak out which, make a regular joint-like clunk every mouthfu' he devoors.Cai. 1916 T.S.D.C. II.:
An old fellow, asked what sort of a New Year's first-footing he had had, replied — "Heesht, be quate, for twa oors I was hearin' naething but the glunk o' bottles."
In phr. to play clunk, to make a dull, gurgling noise.wm.Sc. 1835–37 Laird of Logan II., Gl. 298:
He then ventured to look back on the mighty ocean, and with a sage nod of his head, said, "Ca' me a fule if ye ever play clunk, clunk at my lug again."
2. "A draught" (w.Lth. 1825 Jam.2), a large mouthful, a gulp, of liquid. See also Clunker, n.2Sh.(D) 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 97:
"A'll get a slokkin' o' dis warm sweet mylk," Tamy said as he liftid da kit, an' took a klunk or twa.
3. A single hollow sound, like "that noise which is produced when a cork is drawn out of a bottle" (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 139), or the sound of a solid body falling into deep water (Abd.19, Kcb.9 1936).Bnff.6 c.1920:
The stone fell wi' a clunk into the deep water.
4. "The cry of a hen to her young, when she has found food for them" (s.Sc. 1825 Jam.2, s.v. Clunk). Known to Abd.9 1936. Also, interj., the cry made by a bird.Kcb. 1898 Crockett Standard Bearer xxxiv.:
The black corbies that cry "Glonk! Glonk!" over the carcase of puir perishing Scotland.
II. v.
1. To make a hollow gurgling noise as of liquid when poured from a bottle or "as that proceeding from any liquid confined in a cask, when shaken, if the cask be not full" (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., klunk; Bnff.2, Abd.2, Ags.1 1936).Abd. 1832 W. Scott Poems 70:
The foreneen's ale gaed clunkin' down the wame.Per. 1857 J. Stewart in Harp of Perthshire (ed. R. Ford 1893) 160:
Bridals, balls, an' ploys, Haud the bottle clunkin'.Ayr. (?1786) publ. 1799 Burns Jolly Beggars (Cent. ed.) Recit. vii. l.8:
An' made the bottle clunk, To their health that night.
2. To gulp down liquid quickly, making a gurgling sound in the throat. Gen. with doon. Only I.Sc. and n.Sc.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
He klunked doon a lock o' water.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Just hear him glunkan it doon.Cai.7 1936:
The fare for crossing the Pentland Sound from John O Groats to Strome is (or was) a bottle of whisky. This is passed from hand to hand and the understanding is that you may take a mouthful "bit ye mostna glownk 'er"!
3. To make a dull, clanking sound (Bnff.2 1936).Sc. 1834 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1856) IV. 74:
Canna ye sook that back without your jaw-banes clunkin?
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"Clunk n.1, v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/clunk_n1_v1>
