trans. [f. prec. sb.]
1. To treat with clay; to cover, smear or plaster with clay.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 139. Claye it, and bynde it.
1560. Whitehorne, Ord. Souldiours (1573), 45 a. A very good claye, for to lute or clay, and ioyne violles, flagons of glasse [etc.].
1663. P. Henry, Diary & Lett. (1882), 135. April 26 Dwelling-house … clay’d for John Green.
1713. Warder, True Amazons, 155. When your Mead is almost cold, Tun it up, Clay it down, and let it stand till it is fine, and old enough to drink.
1759. B. Martin, Nat. Hist. Eng., Dorset, I. 41. Like an Oven, clayed round in a very artful Manner.
2. To dress (sandy soil) with clay, mix clay with.
1697. Phil. Trans., XIX. 413. Claying a very light Sandy Soil.
1850. Kingsley, Alt. Locke, xxv. (1874), 185. How he was draining, claying, breaking up old moorlands.
3. To treat (sugar) with clay in refining.
1703. Dampier, Voy. N. Holland, III. ii. 55. All the Sugar that is made here is clay’d.
1822. Imison, Sc. & Art, II. 127. Clay is put upon the tops of the conical pots in which the sugar has granulated, which allows water to percolate through, and thus drain off the last remains of the molasses. This is called claying the sugars.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts., III. 943.
4. Mining. To line the blast hole with clay to prevent the access of water to the explosive: cf. claying-bar.
Clay, dial. f. CLEE, claw, hoof; var. of CLY, v.
