A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1500-1629, 1698
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Claver, Clavir, n. Also: clavyr. [Northern ME. claver, OE. cláfre, or ME. (and e.m.E.) claver, for earlier clăfre, clǽfre, OE. clǽfre. Cf. Clever n.] Clover; a clover-leaf. Also attrib. with seed. 1500 Reg. Great S. 541/1.
Reddendo regi … trifolium nemoris, Anglice a clavir, in festo nativitatis S. Joh. Bap. nomine albe firme c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxv. 29.
Quod he, ‘My claver and my curldodie' 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 116.
In battill gyrs burgionys … The clavyr, catcluke, and the cammamyld 1535 Stewart 7396.
All the feild with clauer wes ouir cleid1535 Ib. 10972. a1568 Bannatyne MS 141 a/7.
Scho had ane hat vpoun hir heid Of claver cleir bayth quhyt and reid 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 304.
Sanct Johnes nutt, and the foure levit claver 1596 Dalr. I. 6/30.
Litle fertile and verie bare garse, quhilke onlie beiris the clauer ?1549 Monro W. Isles 21.
Ronay ... abundante of naturall claver girs for scheip 1629 Boyd Last B. 25.
This grace shall be … like as a foure nooked clauer a1598 Ferg. Prov. 2 b.
An ill hooke wald have a good claver 1698 Foulis Acc. Bk. 228.
To David to buy claver seed for the aleys in the little yard
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"Claver n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/claver_n>
