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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

CLEAR, adj., adv., v. and n. Sc. usages. For Sc. forms, see Clair. [kli:r, kliər]

I. adj. 1. In phr. and combs.: †(1) clear-headed, bald-headed; (2) clear scart, unscathed (prob. = clear of scart, free from scratch or injury). Not known to our correspondents; (3) to luik wi' clear een, to look long and earnestly (Bnff.², Abd.¹⁹, Lnk.³ 1937).(1) Gall. a.1830 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. (1874) ii.:
Leeze me abune them a' . . . for yon auld clear-headed man.(2) Lnk. 1893 J. Crawford Sc. Verses and Sangs 27:
An' when clear scart we reached the road, We paused to steal a glint ahin'.(3) Sc. 1832 Laird o Drum in Child Ballads (1956) IV. 329: 
I doubt they would look wi a gay clear ee That would ken your dust frae mine.Abd.(D) 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb viii.:
But she'll luik wi' clear een ere she see that again, I doot.

2. Used substantively alone or with stuff: whisky (Abd.²², Ags.¹1937).Sc. 1874 A. Hislop Sc. Anecdotes 212:
We hae Gin, Rum, Shrub, and ither nicknackets For them whan the clear stuff their brain sets in rackets.Lth. [1801] J. Thomson Poems (1819) 30:
A good half mutchkin o' the clear, A hearty stoup o' good strong beer.

†II. adv. “Certainly, used in affirmation” (Abd. 1825 Jam.²).

III. v. 1. “To search by raking or scratching” (Bnff.⁴, Bnff.⁷ 1912). Cf. Clair, v. (1).

2. In phrases: (1) to be cleared kelty aff, see Keltie, n.²; (2) to clear (someone's) een, to scold, call (someone) to account (Bnff.² 1937).(2) Mearns 1844 W. Jamie Muse of the Mearns 75:
Some of the rest began to fear Their wives would clear their een, Because they couldna gie account, Nor tell where they had been.

3. Phr. a clearing year, a year or season of scarcity or shortage when stocks are cleared or drastically reduced. Peb. 1801 Edb. Weekly Jnl. (17 June) 190: 
What ever interest could work upon the farmer, or necessity upon the poor. . . . have all helped to the coming abundance. If, in the merchant's language, one moiety of this season prove a clearing year, the other may be one overflowing.

†IV. n. (1) In phr. the clear of the moon, full moon; cf. Fr. clair de tune, id., and obs. Eng. dark of the moon, the time near new moon when there is no moonlight (N.E.D.).Kcb. 1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders xxxiv.:
A large body of men exercised every night during the clear of the moon.

(2) A scolding. Cf. III. 2. (2) and Clearin'. Peb. 1836 J. Affleck Poet. Wks. 123: 
Time that we were flitting, Case we get anither clear.