Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1866-1900
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CLEESTER, Kleester, Cleister, Claister, Klyster, Clystre, Klister, Klester, v. and n.1 [′klistər Sh. + ′klɛstər, ′klæstər (Jak.), Ork. + ′klaɪstər, Cai., s.Sc. + ′klestər; ′kləistər ne.Sc.]
1. v. To smear with any sticky substance, to bedaub, plaster with mud, tar, etc. (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; 1908 Jak. (1928), klister, klester; 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw., klyster, kleester; Lnl.11937; Clydes. 1880 Jam.5, kleester; Rxb. 1825 Jam.2, claister; 1923 Watson W.-B., cleester); “to besmirch” (Cai.8 1934, claister).Sh. 1898 Shet. News (7 May):
Geordie wis up an' cleestr'd da side o' Aandrew's heid wi' da weet muir, an' aff he set.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 29:
He cam haim we's claise a' clystrt our wee dubs.Kcb.4 c.1900:
She cleistered him a' aboot the gab wi' champit tatties.
2. n.
(1) “A thick viscid mass” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 29; Lnl.11937; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); “large spittle” (Cai.1 c.1920).
(2) “A person bedaubed with mire” (Lnl.11937; Rxb. 1825 Jam.2).
[Cf. Dan. klistre, to paste, and klister, paste; M.L.Ger. and M.H.Ger. klĩster (Mod.Ger. kleister), adherent substance. From the productive Gmc. root *klī-, Idg. *glei-, to cleave, adhere + suff. -stro, as in bolster, holster.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Cleester v., n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 8 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/cleester_v_n1>
