cleck

¹

/ klɛk /

verb

1. (of birds) to hatch

2. to lay or hatch (a plot or scheme)

cleck

²

/ klɛk /

verb

1. to gossip (about); tell (on)

noun

1. (often plural) a piece of gossip

Other Word Forms

• clecky adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cleck¹

C15: from Old Norse klekja

Origin of cleck²

from Welsh, from clecan to gossip, and clec gossip

Example Sentences

Cleck, klek, v.t. to hatch.—n.

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She was cocksure the two small arms only just covered it, because unless one cheated and pushed her elbow over the edge, your middle fingers wouldn't jam and go cleck—like this....

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O. N. klekking, chicken, but probably Sco. formation from cleck, to hatch, q.v.

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Some thought it was afflicted with a tympathy, and others, that it was the natural way for such-like ducks to cleck their young.

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