bonny-clabber Anglo-Irish.
(ˈbɒnɪˈklæbə(r))
Forms: 7 bonneyclabber, bon(n)iclabber, bonny-clabbore, bony-clabo, 7–8 bonny clabber, 8 bonnaclaber, 7–9 bonniclapper, bonnyclabber.
[a. Irish bainne milk, claba thick. (O'Reilly).]
Milk naturally clotted or coagulated on souring; called in Scotland loppert or lappert milk.
| 1631 B. Jonson New Inn i. i, To drink such balderdash, or bonny-clabber. 1631 R. H. Arraignm. Whole Creat. v. 36 They would eate the sowrest Bonniclapper. 1635 Strafford Lett. (1739) I. 441 All the comfort I have is a little Bonneyclabber..it is the bravest, freshest drink you ever tasted. 1691 Tryon Wisd. Dictates 152 Bonniclabber is nothing else but Milk that has stood till it is sower, and become of a thick slippery substance. 1716 T. Ward Eng. Ref. 234 Curds, Cream, and Hatted-Bonnaclaber, Wou'd make a hungry Parson Caper. 1730 Swift Answ. Craftsman ad fin., The people live with comfort on potatoes and bonny-clabber. 1883 Harper's Mag. Mar. 603/2, I had so much bonny-clabber, or curdled milk. |
| attrib. 1689 G. Harvey Cur. Dis. Expect. vi. 38 These Bonny-Clabber Physicians are deservedly censured Criminal. |