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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.

Quotation dates: 1888

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CLUNKERTONIE, Klunker-tony, Klanker-tony, n. Also †clunking tonie. The jelly-fish, medusa or seanettle (Ork. 1929 Marw., klunker-tony, klanker-; Cai. 1906 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 68, clunkertonie). Marw. also gives uncompounded klanker. [′klʌŋkər′toni, + a (Marw.)]Cai. 1888 Sc. N. & Q. (Ser. 1) I. 160: 
On the shores of the Pentland Firth their [jelly-fish] name is "clunking tonies".

[According to Marw., both elements arise from the stinging propensities of certain species of these animals. O.N. klungr, bramble, Norw. klunger, wild rose, + a corruption of O.N. þorn, Norw. torn, a prickle, thorn (the alternative Norw. form tonn, given by Marw., is not confirmed). The comb. klynger-torn in Dan. means “bramble” (Larsen).]

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