clough - Middle English Compendium

Middle English Dictionary Entry

clǒugh n.

Forms	clǒugh n. Also clogh, cloch, cloh, cluf, clou, clew. Pl. clo(u)ghes, clous, cloes, clewes.
Etymology	OE *clōh, corresp. to OHG klāh (akin to clingo ravine).

(a) A narrow valley or dell; a ravine or gorge; (b) the steep side of a gorge; a bluff or cliff.

c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1761 : Into a grisly clouȝ [rimes: drouȝ, anouȝ] Þai and þat maiden ȝode.
a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)17590 : Þir caitif Iuus, Sent in to clinttes and in to clous [Trin-C: in clif & clow] To seke iesu.
c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)150 : Qwene was I..Of contres, of castelles, of cragges, of clewes [vrr. clowes, cloes].
c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2019 : All þe clewez and the cleyffez.
c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2396 : Here es a knyghte in theis kleuys enclosside with hilles, That I haue cowayte to knawe.
a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)120/52 : Als lange as we haue herde-men bene And kepis þis catell in þis cloghe.
c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4863 : Þare was..so hoge hillis þam beforn, Cloȝes at was cloude, he clynterand torres.
c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)1077 : With his seruand suld he ga In clowes to clype his schepe.
a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)893 : He found a chapell in his way, As he cam by a cloughis syde.

(1268) Cart.Cock.in Chet.n.s.39259 : Incipiendo ad clohe super ripam de Brocke.
c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)129 : The birdis one the bewes..clyme in the clewes, That hedows whene þay here.
c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)941 : The kyng coueris þe cragge wyth cloughes full hye, To the creste of the clyffe he clymbez on lofte.
c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1639 : Here es þe close of Clyme with clewes so hye.
a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)5833 : His horse brake fro hym..And goos vp on a clowgh.

In names [see also Smith PNElem. 1.99].