▪ I. † clunter, v. Obs. exc. dial.
[In form a frequentative of clunt: see clunch. It is thus to a certain extent a synonym of clutter and its variants; but it has also strong associations of use with clumper, q.v. With the various senses cf. Du. klonteren to clot, coagulate, klontermelk, Ger. dial. kluntermilch, curds; EFris. kluntern to go clumsily and noisily.]
† 1. intr. To run together in clots or lumps, to clutter, clotter, or clodder. Obs. or ? dial.
| 1587 Harrison Eng. ii. vi. (1877) i. 158 She..mixeth them with the malt..otherwise these later would clunter, fall into lumps, and thereby become vnprofitable. 1847 Halliwell Clunter, to turn lumpy, as..in boiling. Yorksh. |
2. trans. To put together clumsily, to clumper up.
| 1876 Whitby Gloss. s.v., ‘It was clunter'd up onny hoo’, clapped together, as we say of slop furniture. |
3. intr. (See quots.)
| 1788 Marshall E. Yorksh., Clunter, to make a rude noise with the feet in walking. 1876 Whitby Gloss., Clunter, to stamp with the feet. Cluntering, walking clownishly. 1877 Holderness Gloss., Clunther, v. 1878 Cumberland Gloss., Clunter. 1887 Cheshire Gloss., Clonter, to make a clatter, especially in walking with heavy boots or clogs. |
▪ II. ˈclunter, n. dial.
[Corresponds to MDu. klonter, EFris. klunter = klunt lump; cf. also clumper n.1]
‘A big lump’ (Cheshire Gloss. 1886).