Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1809-1917
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CLISH, Cleish, Clesh, v. “To repeat an idle story” (Bnff.4 1912; Fif. 1825 Jam.2). [klɪʃ, kliʃ, klɪ̢ʃ, klɛʃ]
Hence (1) clish-clash, cleish-clash, idle talk, gossip (Bnff.2, Lnl.1, Kcb.9 1937). Also in vbl.n. clish-clashing. Adj. clishy-clashy, gossipy, chattering; (2) clesh-ma-clash, idle talk, gossip; a chatterbox, used attrib. Also as a v., to gossip. (1) Edb. 1917 T. W. Paterson Wyse-Sayin's o' Solomon xviii. 7:
The bletherin o' a fule 'll bring him to his hunkers belyve; An' his ain clish-clash 'll lay girns for his ain saul.wm.Sc. 1829 New Scotch Haggis 324:
The nicht's clish-clashing, tittle-tattlin', an' tale-bearin' commenced wi' the auld wives.s.Arg. 1917 A. W. Blue Quay Head Tryst 107:
If it's the cleish-clash o' folk . . . you needna fash yer heid.Rnf. a.1810 R. Tannahill Poems and Songs (1876) 362:
Noo' the haill toun resoun's wi the clish-clash.Ayr. 1833 J. Kennedy G. Chalmers 80:
Nane o yer snip-snap, clishy-clashy palavers for me.(2) m.Lth. 1878 R. Cuddie Corstorphine Lyrics 31:
You say I'm nothing but an ass; In that, my dearest clishmaclash, Forsooth, tak your will.Edb. 1901 J. W. McLaren Poems 36, 56:
Ye sleekit, clish-ma-clashin' hash! . . . I'm tauld he has plenty o' siller, By clish-ma-clash Liberton folk.Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake, etc. 10:
Ither idle clesh-ma-clash, Wad only gie the reader fash.
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"Clish v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/clish>
