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

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

Cleth, Cleith, n. Also: kletht, cleyth, clyth(e; pl. cleys, cleȝis, cleis(e. [Northern ME. cleth (rare), ON. klæði. Cf. Clath(e n.]

1. Cloth. a1400 Leg. S. xxviii. 214.
In a dongeone … Quhare nan mycht with hyre spek, Na met na drink na cleth hir rek 1506 Orkn. & Shet. Rec. I. 248.
My doublet of kletht of gold 1561 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 338.]
[Robert Jak, tailȝeour, alias Cleythaneucht a1568 Bann. MS. 135 b/69.
Commounly gud cleth is best cheip 1569–70 Soc. Ant. VI. 52.
Blak stemmyng to be ane buriall cleyth vpoun my Lordis beir 1580 Coll. Aberd. & B. 392.
Ane lang grein cleith for ane hie burde … thre lytill grein burde cleithis for chalmeris 1583 Elgin Rec. I. 172.
Tua hunderith elnis quhyt cleyth 1599 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I. 398.
Cleyth to be coit and breik 1604 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 402.
The cleyth fixt to the pulpet of grein stemmyne

2. pl. Clothes, garments. 1558 Inverness B. Rec. I. 19.
The said Mage is jugit … to restoyr hir cleys agane 1568 Edinb. Test. I. 157.
Item certane vthir cleis, viz. coittis, dowblattis [etc.] 1569 Inv. Q. Mary 185.
The inventarie of the maskyne cleise 1569–70 Soc. Ant. VI. 52.
Peir Antuene and the Meir … for heir to buis thair cleis and gargasis 1593 Brechin Test. I. 108.
Ane pair of auld plaidis with her lyineing cleithes 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Liberatio.
Ane liverie is of meate or cleithes 1609 Brechin Test. III. 19.
Ane stand of his best cleȝis with his gray clok 1621 Maxwell Mem. I. 327.
For weshing sum cleis … vj d. 1626 Brechin Test. IV. 237 b.
Tua standis of clythis

3. Attrib. with kist (= clothes' chest). 1626 Brechin Test. IV. 237 b.
Tua clythe kistis lokit & bandit