vbl. sb. Also 9 clackin. [f. CLECK v.]
1. The action of the verb CLECK; hatching; (transf. in quot.).
1815. Scott, Guy M., i. ‘Clecking time’s aye canty time.’
2. A hatching, a brood (of chickens, etc.).
1787. Burns, Selkirk to Creech, viii. Like some bewildered chicken Scar’d frae its minnie and the cleckin By hoodie-craw.
1823. Galt, Entail, I. xxxii. 283. The bairns o’ the last clecking are to be provided for by their mother’s uncle.
