cleck, v. Chiefly Sc.
(klɛk)
Also 5–6 clek.
[a. ON. klekja, in Sw. kläcka, Da. klække to hatch. Cf. cletch.]
1. trans. Of birds: To hatch. Also absol.
| 1500–20 Dunbar Schir, Ȝit Remembir 24 Kynd natyve nest dois clek bot owlis. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. III. 388 Birdis clekkit as tha war wont till do. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (1885) 40 To cleck burdis of thir egis. |
2. transf. Of human beings. (Contemptuously.)
| 1401 Pol. Poems (1859) II. 95 Ȝe ben clekkid out to pursuwe holi chirche. 1513 Douglas æneis iv. vii. 9 The[e] clekkit that horrible mont, Caucasus hait. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xviii, Since the day ye was cleckit. |
3. fig. To hatch (devices, plots, etc.).
| 1578 Gude & Godlie Ball. (1868) 91 The Amelekis, that lesingis weill can clek. 1725 Ramsay Gent. Sheph. ii. i, To cleck, and spread the grossest lies aff-hand. |