Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1866
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]
†KLYAUCH, v., n. Also kllauch, kllauck (Gregor). [kljɑ:x]
I. v. To work messily, to besmear, to expectorate. Ppl.adj. kllauchin, “filthy of habit and unskilful at work” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 96). With wi: to fondle overmuch, coddle, cosset (Ib.).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 96:
He haucht an' kllaucht, an' spat, till he caed me oot fairly scunnert. He kllaucht amon's taties, an' widna sup them.
II. n. Messy, unpleasant work; the act of besmearing or expectorating. Hence kllauchie, kllauckie, slimy; the act of over-nursing, excessive handling; a person dirty of habits and unskilful at work (Ib.).
[A variant form of Claich, id., with palatalisation of l; see P.L.D. §141.1. The word is mainly imit. with formal influence from Cloch, Clocher, Clag, v., n.1, Claick, v.2, n.2, Clyager.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Klyauch v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/klyauch>
