cluck

views updated May 17 2018

cluck / klək/ • n. 1. the characteristic short, guttural sound made by a hen. ∎  a similar sound made by a person to express annoyance: Loretta gave a cluck of impatience.2. inf. a stupid or foolish person.• v. (also cluck-cluck) [intr.] (of a hen) make a short, guttural sound. ∎  [tr.] (of a person) make such a sound with (one's tongue) to express concern or disapproval: Michael clucked his tongue irritably. ∎  [intr.] (cluck over/at/about) express fussy concern about: they were cluck-clucking over the dishonor he brought to the office.

cluck

views updated May 23 2018

cluck vb. XVII. corr. to MHG. klucken, Da. klukke, Sw. klucka, imit. formation to which there are parallel forms with the vowel o, OE. cloccian, MDu. clocken (Du. klokken), Sw. dial. klokka.

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