Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Cleke, Cleik, n. Also: cleick, cleek, clik, clyk, klik. [ME. (rare) cleke (a 1400), act of clutching, related to Cleke v.]

1. A metal hook, usually of some size or strength, used for holding, pulling, or suspending.(a) 1436 Ayr B. Ct. MS.
Thir women … nocht to cum in hous na entercommoun, & giff thai do … to be with hyrne clekis put in the water 1507 Treas. Acc. III. 397.
Bukkilles and clekis for the mules harnessingis 1533 Boece ix. xvi. 328.
His body eftir certane dais with clekis was drawin to land 1532 M. Works Acc. II. 53.
vij dosane of clekis for hyngaris in the Kingis chalmer 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII. 146.
To Williame Forrest, bukkilmaker, for bukillis, pendessis, junctouris, claspis, clekis, and uther wark 1548 Ib. IX. 196.
For making of xviij clekis, xviij eine, xj gret buklis … to my lord governoures lytecampe bed(b) 1425 Acts II. 12/2.
vj or ma cleikis of yrn to draw downe tymmer & ruffis at ar fyryt 1538 Treas. Acc. VII. 42.
For ane cleik to the said pavilȝeoun 1545 Ib. VIII. 380.
For certane bandis of irne to the quheillis of the saiddis moyanis, schone, cleikis and nalis to the extreis thairof 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 311.
For foure punds of steill to lay the cleiks of the crepars of the cran 1565–6 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 507.
Ane bolt and tua cleiks to hing the liddis [of the well] 1568 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 644/1.
Ane belt and ane cowter … contenand of knoppis and intermiddis with the cleikis inclosit, sax schoir and ane 1589–90 Ayr Common Good Acc. MS.
For ane cleik making on it for to hing ane bowat on in mirk nychtis 1602 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 308.
That all inhabitants … that uses any wechts that thai haif thame of ane peice without cleikis and eiks 1611 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 65.
He receavit 2 swingle treis with iron cleikis theron 1630 Bamff Chart. 224.
Tuo pair of doorre cheiks with four cleiks 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 47.
Thrie great yron cleikis for hinging of the bak 1667 Kelso Baillie Ct. MS. 34 b.
The … ledders and cleicks shall be devyded and keiped as followes. … Ledders with on cleick for the mylne [etc.] 1675 Stirling Comm. Good MS. 93 b.
Twa cleiks for hinging the drumes 1682 Claverhouse in Napier Mem. I. 137.
M^cLarg the smith of Monygaff that made all the clikys 1696 Foulis Acc. Bk. 197.
To Wm Bishop, smith at Coltbridge, for … 4 cleiks to the window curtains(c) 1595 Duncan Appendix.
Harpage, … a cleek or hooke 1609 Hilderstoun Silver Mines II. 170.
Ane cleek of irne to the melting bellowes(d) 1680 Moncreiffs 668.
Klik

b. Attrib. with hench (hinge), nail. 1628 M. Works Acc. XXII. 2.
For iij^xx cleik naillis weyand tua staine four pund Ib. ii.
Thrie cleik henchis for the waplaitis

2. A haul or sweep at cards. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxii. 67.
Jok, that wes wont to keip the stirkis, Can now draw him ane cleik of kirkis With ane fals cairt in to his sleif 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7560.
Our awin Emprice … put reproche vnto ane vther Quene, Bot scho may cast hir cartis in at the cleik Of the same sort

3. pl. ‘A cramp in the legs, to which horses are subject’ (J). a1605 Montg. Flyt. 295 (T).
The coirdis, the colt evill, the claspis, and the cleikis