Also 6 clasche, classhe. [This and the associated verb are first found about 1500, and appear to be onomatopæic; arising, in the main, from instinctive association with classes of pre-existing echoic words. The initial element is that of clap, clack, etc.; the final that of dash, splash, smash, swash, etc., or perhaps a direct imitation of the element of sound common to these. Clash thus suggests an action produced in the same way as a clap or clack, which, instead of abruptly ending like these, is broken down as it were into, and results in, a mingled mass of smashing or rustling sounds. A parallel relation exists in crack, crash, perh. in smack, smash, and in the dial. swack, swash; cf. also bash, blash, brash, as instances of words having a kindred element of form and signification. There is no phonetic relation between clack and clash; i.e., no way by which -ash could have been developed (in English) out of -ack by the mere operation of phonetic processes.]
1. The loud sound of collision made by a heavy stroke or blow, the first impact of which is firm and hard, but is followed by a confused sound of many looser and lighter impacts; the kind of blow or stroke that yields this sound. Still Sc.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, IX. xii. 59. Sa felloun sownd or clap mayd this gret clasche.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. clxxxvi. (R.). The heed of the speare made a great classhe on the bright chapewe of stele.
1747. Collins, Passions, xii. 23. In one rude clash he struck the lyre, And swept with hurried hand the strings.
1808–79. Jamieson, s.v., ‘A clash on the side of the head,’ a box on the ear.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxiii. Something fell with a heavy clash on the street before us … Conscience! if it isna the keys.
1876. Robinson, Mid-Yorksh. Gloss., Clash, a heavy fall.
1880. Antrim & Down Gloss., Clash, a slap or blow.
b. The sound of heavy rain, or the like.
1817. Coleridge, Sibyl. Leaves (1862), 250. O Rain! with your dull two-fold sound, The clash hard by, and the murmur all round!
1820. Shelley, Witch Atl., I. The incessant hail with stony clash Ploughed up the waters.
2. The loud but broken sound of the collision of weapons, the striking together of cymbals, the confused ringing of an alarum bell. (Here, a clash begins like a clang, but does not result like it in a ring.)
1623. Fletcher, Maid in Mill, V. ii. I heard no words between ’em, but what their weapons spoke, clash and clatter.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 436, ¶ 9. Hearing the Clash of Swords.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, V. 190. Through the battle and the clash of spears.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 481. The clash of cymbals, and the rolling of drums.
1858. Froude, Hist. Eng., III. xiii. 123. The clash of the alarm-bells came pealing far over the water.
3. Shock of conflict, collision, hostile encounter, conflict.
1646. Howell, Lustra Ludovici, Table. A Clash ’twixt the Counsel of State and the Parlement, with the Parlements submission.
1658. Ussher, Ann., VI. 500. Upon a second clash between the two brothers … Cyzicenus won the day.
1870. Standard, 19 Dec. Great tact and a delicate temper must be exerted to avoid a clash with men who are at once touchy and a trifle overbearing.
b. The conflict or collision of contrary arguments or opinions.
1781. Cowper, Conversation, 85. The clash of arguments and jar of words.
1841. D’Israeli, Amen. Lit. (1867), 694. Our philosopher could not sympathize with the clash of temporary passions.
1858. J. B. Norton, Topics, 148. That ample discussion, which nothing but the clash and conflict of a variety of opinions can secure.
1879. Baring-Gould, Germany, II. 178. The bishop or dean had rights in the town, which were in constant clash with the rights of the citizens.
4. fig. The communication of a sudden shock. Sc.
1709. M. Bruce, Soul Confirm., 14 (Jam.). At last they give him a clash of the Kirk’s craft, they cast him out of the synagogue.
1814. Scott, Wav., xxxvi. ‘They tell ower a clash of terror and a clatter of comfort in their sermons, without ony sense or life.’
5. A sudden and heavy fall of rain, or of any moist substance dashed against a body; a large quantity or mass of anything capable of being dashed out. Sc. and north. dial.
1808–79. Jamieson, Clash, a heap of any heterogeneous substances. A large quantity of anything; as ‘a clash of porridge,’ ‘a clash o’ siller,’ ‘the cow has gi’en a clash o’ milk.’
1821. Galt, Ann. Parish Dalmailing, 12 (Jam.). Poor old Mr. Kilfuddy … got such a clash of glar on the side of his face, that his eye was almost extinguished.
1876. Robinson, Whitby Gloss., s.v., ‘Clashes of rain,’ soaking showers.
6. Chatter, idle talk; the country talk; an item of gossip (generally malicious). Sc. and north. dial.
1685. G. Sinclair, Satan’s Invis. World (1769), 43 (Jam.). No more afraid to keep up the clash with him, than to speak to one another.
1713. Ld. Cromerty, Conspiracies, 88 (Jam.). The calumnies did find little belief … standing only on the clashes of some women, and a few seditious whisperers.
1718. Ramsay, Christ’s Kirk, III. x. Clashes, mingled aft wi’ lies.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xxix. ‘I was in America then … and no in the way to hear the country clashes.’ ‘There was little clash about it, man.’
1876. Robinson, Whitby Gloss., Clashes, news. ‘What’s the clashes?’
b. (see quot.)
1880. Antrim & Down Gloss., Clash, a tell-tale.
Mod. Sc. An auld mischievous clash.
c. Comb. as clash-bag, -market, -piet, a tattler, tell-tale. Sc.
1825–79. Jamieson, Clash-piet, a tell-tale.
1868. G. Macdonald, R. Falconer, I. 14. ‘Ye’ll do naething o’ the kin’, Betty. Are ye gaein’ to turn clash-pyet at your age?’
