Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1774-1834, 1914-1957
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KLEBER, n. Also claber, clebber, kleeber. Steatite, soapstone (Sh. 1960). Cf. Clemmel, Bairdal. Also attrib. [′klebər, ′kli-]Sh. 1774 G. Low Tour (1879) 133:
Near Hilswick was shewn in the rock a large vein of a fattish kind of stone, called here Claber, used in many cases as a medicine, especially in excoriations of children, the small pox, etc.Sh. 1806 P. Neill Tour 164:
The serpentine is called kleber by the natives who use it as an excellent substitute for metallic oxides in ointments.Sh. 1834 Old-Lore Misc. X. v. 214:
The Kleber Gio . . . is so called from the abundance of steatite which it contains.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl. 110:
A small spindle, about a foot long, with a notch at the upper end of it to which the thread is fixed, and a kleeber whorl at the lower end to act as a fly-wheel.Sh. 1939 A. C. O'Dell Hist. Geog. Sh. 174:
Soapstone . . . is found near Everland at Fetlar. It is characteristically soft and easily fashioned and is known as “kleber”. The Shetland soapstone is a reddish brown talcose schist.Sh. 1957 J. Stewart Sh. Archaeology 6:
Steatite (or “kleeber”, “klemmel”, talc, soapstone) was used commonly to make pots and also to mix with clay for pots.
