[f. CLOCK v.2]

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  1.  The action of the vb. CLOCK; the noise made by a brooding hen; brooding, hatching (Sc.).

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c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 83. Clokkynge, of hennys, crispiatus.

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1529.  More, Comf. agst. Trib., II. Wks. 1179/2. Those chikins of hys [God’s] ye … wyl not come at his clokkyng.

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1616.  Surfl. & Markh., C. Farme, 68. A young Henne which falleth to clocking.

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1883.  Blackw. Mag., Aug., 193/1. With their clocking, chimed in the distant bleating of the lambs.

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  2.  Comb., clocking-time, Sc., hatching-time.

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1784.  Burns, Ep. Rankine, x. As soon ’s the clocking-time is by, And the wee pouts begun to cry.

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