clishmaclaver

[ klish-muh-kley-ver, kleesh- ]

nounScot.
  1. gossip; idle or foolish talk.

Origin of clishmaclaver

1
1720–30; clish(-clash) gossip (gradational compound based on clash) + -ma- (< ?) + claver

Words Nearby clishmaclaver

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use clishmaclaver in a sentence

  • Now, don't put any of your squinting constructions on this, or have any clishmaclaver about it among our acquaintances.

    Robert Burns | William Allan Neilson
  • Julia's lovely eyes dilated at this clishmaclaver, and she bowed coldly.

    Hard Cash | Charles Reade

British Dictionary definitions for clishmaclaver

clishmaclaver

/ (ˌklɪʃməˈkleɪvə) /


noun
  1. Scot idle talk; gossip

Origin of clishmaclaver

1
C16: from clish-clash, reduplication of clash + claver

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012