v. Chiefly Sc. Also 5–6 clek. [a. ON. klekja, in Sw. kläcka, Da. klække to hatch. Cf. CLETCH.]
1. trans. Of birds: To hatch. Also absol.
1500–20. Dunbar, Schir, Ȝit Remembir, 24. Kynd natyve nest dois clek bot owlis.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., III. 388. Birdis clekkit as tha war wont till do.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (1885), 40. To cleck burdis of thir egis.
2. transf. Of human beings. (Contemptuously.)
1401. Pol. Poems (1859), II. 95. Ȝe ben clekkid out to pursuwe holi chirche.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, IV. vii. 9. The[e] clekkit that horrible mont, Caucasus hait.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xviii. Since the day ye was cleckit.
3. fig. To hatch (devices, plots, etc.).
1578. Gude & Godlie Ball. (1868), 91. The Amelekis, that lesingis weill can clek.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., II. i. To cleck, and spread the grossest lies aff-hand.
