▪ I. † clenge, n. Obs. rare—1.
[Cf. clange and clang.]
Clang, clangor.
| 1592 W. Wyrley Armorie 84 Glistering swords vnshethed for reuenge..The rumored noise and sound of armors clenge. |
▪ II. clenge, v.1 Sc. and north. dial.
(klɛndʒ)
Also 4 klenge, 6 cleange, clainge.
[Northern var. of clense, cleanse; esp. Sc., where cleanse is still often so pronounced.]
1. trans. To cleanse, make clean (lit. and fig.).
| a 1300 Cursor M. 19872 Call noght comun..Þat clenged has vr lauerd. Ibid. 26373 Þan mai yee best yow clenge o sin. 1536 Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1821) I. 182 He gat sindry craftismen to clenge the fowseis. 1551 Turner Herbal i. Prol. A ij a, Clenge thy harte from all synne. 1582 J. Hester Secr. Phiorav. ii. xvi. 95 The Pilles clenge the head. 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 21 Mercifullie claingit fra y⊇ spott of sin. 1609 A. Craig Poet. Recreat. Ded. A j, Some clenged and dressed their armour. |
† b. To correct. Obs.
| a 1583 Sir J. Balfour Practicks (1754) 38 The Clerk aucht..all his rollis throwch to reid and to clenge. |
2. To clear, empty, sweep clear of, rid of.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce xv. 508 The feld wes clengit cleyn. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. (1858) I. 182 Thus of the Romanis neir clengit ar we. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. Table 66 Be ane Assise the cuntry sould be clenged thrise in the ȝeare of malefactors. |
3. Sc. Law. ‘Legally to exculpate, to produce proof of innocence’ (Jam.); to find not guilty.
| 1513–75 Diurn. Occurr. (1833) 128 Becaus he saw nocht his subscriptione..he wald nowther clenge nor fyle him. 1592 Acts Jas. VI (1814) 531 (Jam.) Quhatsumeuir persone clengis not of certane knawlege the personis accusit, he fyles thame. |
Hence ˈclenger, one who or that which cleanses.
| 1545 Aberd. Registers V. 19 (Jam.) He, his wif and thair clengar, quhilk ar now inclosit for this pest. 1606 in Chambers Dom. Ann. Scot. I. 395 Sending two professional clengers..that they might deal with an infection which had fallen forth. |
▪ III. † clenge, v.2 Obs.
[a weak vb., related to cling.]
intr. To cling, adhere, remain.
| c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. B. 1034 Clay þat clenges þer-by. c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1694 Þe forst clenged. Ibid. 2078 Þay clomben bi clyffez, þer clengez þe colde. |