An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language / in which the words are explained in their different senses, authorized by the names of the writers by whom they are used, or the titles of the works in which they occur, and deduced from their originals

by John Jamieson

CLEUCH, adj.
1. Clever, dextrous, light-fingered, S. B.
2. Niggardly and severe in dealing, S. B.

Isl. klok-r, callidus, vafer; Germ. klug, id.

CLEUCK, CLUKE, s.
1. A claw or talon.
Lyndsay.
2. Used figuratively for the hand. Hence cair-cleuck, the left hand, S. B.
Morison.

Perhaps a dimin. from Su. G. klo, Teut. klauwe, a claw or talon.

To Cleuck, Cleuk, v. a. To grip, to seize with violence, Aberd.
Forbes.

CLEUE and LAW, Higher and lower part.
Barbour.

Cleue seems to be the same with Germ. kleve, A. S. clif, clivus.

To CLEVER, v. n. To climb, to scramble. A. Bor. id.
King's Quair.

Teut. klaver-en, klever-en, sursum reptare unguibus fixis, Isl. klifr-a, id.

CLEVERUS, adj. Clever.
V. [Cleuch].