Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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.

CLUNK, Klunk, Glunk, Glownk, 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). Known to Abd.⁹ 1936.

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?