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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CLADDACH, CLADACH, Cleddach, Cloddach, Cloddoch, Claudach, Cluddoch, n. and v. [′klɑdəx Abd., but Gall. + ′klɛdəx; ′klɔdəx Mry., Gall.; ′klʌdəx Ayr.; ′klɪdjɔx Dmf.]

1. n.

(1) The gravelly bed or margin of a river (Ayr. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl., cluddoch); “a shingly beach” (Gall., Wgt. 1887 Jam.⁶, claddach, cleddach). Jam.² gives the forms clidyoch, clydyoch for Dmf.Gall. 1930 H. Maxwell Place Names of Gall. 69:
The term cladach is still in colloquial use among the people of Galloway. One day I was playing a salmon in the river Luce, while standing on a gravelly beach. My gillie, ready with the gaff, exclaimed “Bring him in to the cladach till I get the cleik intil him.”

(2) “A gravelly ford on the river Lossie” (Mry.¹ 1916, cloddach); “a ridge of gravel thrown up by the Spey” (Speyside 1918 (per Id.), claddach).

(3) A small heap of stones (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 138, cloddoch).

†2. v. To cover with gravel or stones.Abd. 1768 Strathbogie Records (per Mry.³):
A witneis remembers the spate breaking in on the Glebe of Mutlick and leaving growing Trees and claudaching the ground with gravel.