clachan

English

Etymology

From Scottish Gaelic clachan.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈklaxn̩/, /ˈklakn̩/

Noun

clachan (plural clachans)

1. (Scotland) A small village or hamlet, especially in the Highlands or Western Scotland.
   • 1824, James Hogg, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner:

     ‘Now, Penpunt, you may tell me all that passed between you and the wives of the clachan.’

   • 1918, John Buchan, “The Rime of True Thomas: The Tale of the Respectable Whaup and the Great Godly Man”, in The Watcher by the Threshold, US edition, New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company, →OCLC, page 239:

     But if you looked south in the dusty forenoon or at hot midday, you saw the far-off glimmer of a white road, the roofs of the ugly little clachan of Kilmaclavers, and the rigging of the fine new kirk of Threepdaidle.

   • 1951 September, M. D. Greville, “From Glasgow to Aberfoyle”, in Railway Magazine, page 580:

     Of the miserable Highland clachan, to which Sir Walter Scott brought Bailie Nicol Jarvie and Frank Osbaldistone for their meeting with the redoubtable Rob Roy, little or nothing remains, and Aberfoyle is now a bright and clean holiday resort, standing on historic ground, where the Highlands and Lowlands meet.

Derived terms

• Clachan of Campsie

Anagrams

• chancla

Scots

Etymology

From Scottish Gaelic clachan.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /klaxən/

Noun

clachan (plural clachans)

1. hamlet or village generally containing a church, a small cluster of cottages.

Scottish Gaelic

Noun

clachan m (genitive and plural clachain)

1. plural of clach
2. hamlet, village
3. cottage, hut
4. causeway
5. churchyard