Obs. exc. dial. [In form a frequentative of clunt: see CLUNCH. It is thus to a certain extent a synonym of CLUTTER and its variants; but it has also strong associations of use with CLUMPER, q.v. With the various senses cf. Du. klonteren to clot, coagulate, klontermelk, Ger. dial. kluntermilch, curds; EFris. kluntern to go clumsily and noisily.]
† 1. intr. To run together in clots or lumps, to clutter, clotter or clodder. Obs. or ? dial.
1587. Harrison, England, II. vi. (1877), I. 158. She … mixeth them with the malt … otherwise these later would clunter, fall into lumps, and thereby become vnprofitable.
1847. Halliwell, Clunter, to turn lumpy, as … in boiling. Yorksh.
2. trans. To put together clumsily, to clumper up.
1876. Whitby Gloss., s.v., ‘It was clunter’d up onny hoo,’ clapped together, as we say of slop furniture.
3. intr. (See quots.)
1788. Marshall, E. Yorksh., Clunter, to make a rude noise with the feet in walking.
1876. Whitby Gloss., Clunter, to stamp with the feet. Cluntering, walking clownishly.
1877. Holderness Gloss., Clunther, v.
1878. Cumberland Gloss., Clunter.
1887. Cheshire Gloss., Clonter, to make a clatter, especially in walking with heavy boots or clogs.
