clyack

English

Etymology

From Scots clyack, which is in turn from Scottish Gaelic caileag.

Noun

clyack (uncountable)

1. (Scotland, dated) Completion of the harvest season, harvesting the last sheaf of grain.

   get clyack

   finish the harvest

   • 1881, Walter Gregor, Notes on the Folk-lore of the North-east of Scotland, page 181:

     The “clyack” sheaf was cut by the maidens on the harvest field. On no account was it allowed to touch the ground.

   • 1888, J.G. Frazer, “Folk-lore at Balquhidder”, in The Folk-lore Journal, page 270:

     Mr. Duff, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, tells me that in his part of Aberdeenshire there is a competition as to who shall have the last sheaf (the clyack sheaf) like that at Balquhidder, but with this difference, that the last corn left standing and hidden is cut by the reaper himself, not, as at Balquhidder, by the girl who followed binding.

   • 2008 [c. 1892], James Wilson, edited by Peter Hills, Journal of My Life and Everyday Doings 1879-81, 1885-92, Volume 18 of Scottish History Society (series), page 188:

     There are still a good many stooks about the hill sides, and Ardiecow managed to get clyack tonight.

See also

• stook