Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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CLISH, Cleish, Clesh, v. “To repeat an idle story” (Bnff.4 1912; Fif. 1825 Jam.2). [klɪʃ, kliʃ, klʃ, klɛʃ]
Hence (1) clish-clash, cleish-clash, idle talk, gossip (Bnff.2, Lnl.1, Kcb.9 1937); (2) clesh-ma-clash, idem.
(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.
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.
(2) 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 16 Feb 2019 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/clish>
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