north. dial. Forms: 4 cleþ(e, kleþe, clede, (clete), 4–6 cleth(e, 6 cleith(e, (cleitht), cleath, 6–9 cleid, 8– cleed, clead. Pa. t. and pple., 4– cled, (cledde, cledd, clethd): cf. CLAD. [ME. (north.) cleþe, pa. t. cledde, pa. pple. cled, a. ON. klæða, pa. t. klædda, pa. pple. klædd-r (Sw. kläda, Da. klæde) to clothe; f. OTeut. type *klaiþjan, f. klaiþo- cloth, garment. (Not the exact correspondent to OE. cláðian:—type *klaiþojan.) The pa. t., klædda was from *klæðda; in later times the present stem has, by levelling, and assimilation to the type of feed, breed, etc., become cleed, clead. The normal Sc. spelling is cleid, but in the vbl. sb. has passed into general use in the form cleading.] = CLOTHE v.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 23072 (Cott.). Þe nede for to cleth [Fairf. cleþ, Gött. clath, Trin. cloþe] and fede.
c. 1325. Metr. Hom., 87. Wit hayr ful hard his bodi he cledde.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 356. The byschop … cled him rycht honorabilly.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 132. And pore men love to clethe and fede.
c. 1440. York Myst., xlviii. 287. Whanne I was clothles ȝe me cledde.
c. 1450. Guy Warw. (C.), 397. When þey were þus ycledde.
1483. Cath. Angl., 67. To Clethe in manhode, humanare.
1545. Joye, Exp. Dan. iv. G viij b. For that he was so excellently cled with glorye and innocencye.
1549. Compl. Scot., vii. (1873), 70. Beand clethd in ane sydegoune.
a. 1605. Montgomerie, Lyk as Aglauros, 75. Cleith thy self with cair.
a. 1651. Calderwood, Hist. Kirk (1843), II. 102. That purenesse and perfection wherewith we are cled in baptisme.
1724. Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc. (1733), I. 85. I’d clead me braw and ladylike.
a. 1774. Fergusson, Cauler Water, Poet. Wks. (1845), 22. Leaves to cleed the birken bowers.
1795. H. Macneill, Will & Jean, V. Night advancing, Cleads wi’ grey the neighbouring hill.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xxvi. ‘He kens weel eneugh wha feeds him, and cleeds him.’
c. 1850. Janet Hamilton, Rhymes for Times, ii. 55. Cleed their limbs wi’ decent claes.
