Sc. and north-Irish. Forms: 6 clauchanne, 7 clauchan, 8 claughan, 9 clachen, 7– clachan. [Gaelic clachan ‘village, hamlet, burying-place’ (Shaw), app. f. clach stone.
The form in modern Gaelic, with secondary accent on -an, is that of a diminutive of clach; but it is not clear what the original sense was; its most common current use is ‘stepping-stones’ across a stream, but it has been used for ‘village’ in Gaelic song and phrase. It used to be said that the three requisites of a Highland village were a church, an inn, and a smithy; hence the contextual use of clachan both for ‘the church’ and the ‘public-house.’ (Prof. Mackinnon.)]
A small village or hamlet in the Highlands or west of Scotland. Also attrib.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., XI. xvii. 9 (Jam.). Clachin Yha.
1581. Sc. Act Jas. VI. (1597). § 116. Passing to Burrows, Townes, Clauchannes and Aile-houses.
1640. Galston Sess. Rec., in Old Ch. Life Scotl. (1885), 209. Two of the elders … ordained to go throw the Clachan at ten at night.
1642. Ayr Presbyt. Minutes, ibid. 59. Thair could not ane audience be had in the clauchan.
1785. Burns, Death & Dr. Hornbook, iii. The clachan yill had made me canty.
1829. Scott, Rob Roy, Introd. The goodwife of the clachan had hidden Cunningham’s sword.
1872. Blackie, Lays Highl., 83. Fron every clachan in long Glencoe.
1880. Antrim & Down Gloss., Clachan, a small cluster of cottages.
