Obs. exc. dial. In 3–5 cleche. Pa. t. 3 clahte, clachte; pa. pple. 3 claht. [ME. cleche, corresp. to the northern CLEEK (which has also in pa. t. and pple. claȝt, claucht), appears to go back to an unrecorded OE. *clǽc(e)an, *clǽhte (cf. bepǽcan, rǽcan, tǽcan, and their subsequent history). Its relation to clitch, clutch is doubtful.]
1. intr. To clutch. (Const. to, toward.)
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 102. Hweðer þe cat of helle claurede [v.r. clachte, clahte] euer toward hire, & cauhte, mid his cleafres, hire heorte heaued?
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 634. Clechez to a clene cloþe & kestez on þe grene.
2. trans. To clutch, grasp, lay hold of, seize.
a. 1300[?]. Geste K. Horn (Ritson), 961 (Mätz.). Ne mihte ich him never cleche, With nones kunnes speche.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., 37. Ant bede clenyen [? clengen] ther y hade claht.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 12. If þay in clannes be clos, þay cleche gret mede.
a. 1500. MS. Cantab. Ff. v. 48. lf. 82 (Halliw.). Thus wolde he cleche us with his hande, With his fyngers on rawe.
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., Cleach, to clutch.
3. trans. and intr. To lift (water, etc.) in the hollow of the hand, or with any shallow vessel.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 734. Ne dar he seche non oþer leche, Þat mai riht of þis water cleche.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., V. 158. And bees the welles haunte and water cleche.
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., Cleach … to lade out [water, etc.] in a skimming kind of way, so as not to disturb the bottom.
