Dictionaries of the Scots Language:: SND

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: 1922

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CLUNK, v.² To walk heavily (Bnff.², Abd.¹⁹ 1936). [klʌŋk]Lnk. 1922 T. S. Cairncross Scot at Hame 22:
And Jean just clunks aboot Reddin' up wi' muckle clutter.

Hence clunker, a large, heavy foot.Ags.(D) 1922 J. B. Salmond Bawbee Bowden xv.:
An' syne I saw Sandy's muckle clunkers stickin' oot ablo the bed pand.

[Phs. onomat., or the same as e.Yks. dial. clunt, to walk in a heavy, noisy manner (E.D.D.), for which N.E.D. compares Du. klont, E.Fris. klunt, clod, lump, heavy stamping foot. The interchange of t and k is fairly common in Sc., cf. Bruckle and Eng. brittle, Chack, n.³, and Chat, n.², etc. The present word may have been influenced, however, by Clunk, n.¹, 1, a dull, clanking sound.]

Clunk v.2

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"Clunk v.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/clunk_v2>

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