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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CLAIR, Clare, Claer, Klair, adj., adv., v. Cf. Clear. [kle:r]

1. adj.

(1) Sure, certain, exact. Known to Abd. and Ags. correspondents, Fif.¹³, Slg.³ 1940.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 61:
In Flaviana! quo she, dwell ye there, That o' their dwelling ye're so very clare?Ags.(D) 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) vii.:
They had a' the Bible stories as clare's clare cud be. In phrase claer upon, sure of.Abd.(D) 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xviii.:
Johnny wus far fae claer upon's lesson.

(2) Ready, prepared (Sh., Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; n.Sc. 1808 Jam.).Sh.(D) 1886 “G. Temple” Britta 207:
“Da peats wis heavy, an' I'm tired an' hungry too.” “Well, dy supper's clair.”Sh.(D) 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 131:
I hed a feed an' a cup o' tae, an' be dat time me büddie wis klair, an' takkin' him apo' me shooder I made fir da door.

Phr.: clare tae Goad, expression of definite truth, often in exasperation (Fif., Edb., Ayr. 2000s; Ayr. 1987; Edb. 1991).

2. adv. Confidently, precisely, clearly. Known to Abd.⁹, Abd.¹⁹ 1940.ne.Sc. 1884 D. Grant Lays and Leg. of the North (1908) 27:
Afore I gaed fae Eppie Gibb I cud hae gien ye clair The Catechis fae en' to en'.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) 150:
All the news of town and land, And O! I'll tell them clare.Ags. 1872 J. Kennedy Jock Craufurt 33:
. . . then he kent As clare as though he saw't in prent Hoo contra dances should be dune.

3. v. †(1) “To search by raking, or scratching” (Bwk. 1825 Jam.²); also used with for and out (Ib.). Cf. Clear, v. (1).

(2) To prepare.Sh.(D) 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 144:
Da auld wife, ye ken, is only able ta mov' in aboot da hoos; bit shü's still able ta clair wis a mooth o' maet, an' dat's a mercy in a hairst day.