Forms: 1 *clóh, 3–4 cloȝ, 4– clough, (5 cloghe, clow, 5–7 clowgh). Pl. 1 *clóʓas, 4 cloȝes, cloughes, clous, 5–6 clowes, cloes. Mod. dial. cluff, cloof, clufe, clow, cloo; also Sc. CLEUCH q.v. [Represents an OE. *clóh, clóʓes, prob. = OHG. klâh (Sievers).
The Lancashire pronunciation cloof (cf. enoof = enough) has given rise to an erroneous notion that this word is related to Icel. klofi or Du. kloof ‘cleft, rift,’ with which it cannot possibly have connection. The phonetic history and dialect forms clearly show that it is parallel to bough, enough, plough, tough, etc., from OE. -óh. That clóh existed in OE. is also shown by the numerous ancient proper names in Clough-, -clough, -cleuch. The parallel OHG. klâh in Klâhuelde (Foerstemann II. 371) confirms the view of the Rev. A. L. Mayhew (Academy, 31 Aug., 7 & 21 Sept. 1889) that OE. *clóh represented an OTeut. klâh- from klanχo-, and thus stood in ablaut-relation to Ger. klinge, OHG. chlingo, a clough (pre-Teut. root *glenk-); cf. HANG.]
1. A ravine or valley with steep sides, usually forming the bed of a stream or torrent.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 17590 (Cott.). Þir caitif Iuus sent into clinttes and into clous to seke iesu.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 1761. In to a grisly clouȝ Þai and þat maiden ȝode.
c. 1420. Anturs of Arth., xii. Of poundes, of ploes … of cliffes, of cloes [other rhymes broes, groes = brows, grows].
c. 1440. York Myst., xv. 52. And kepis þis catell in þis cloghe.
1515. Scot. Field, 592, in Chetham Misc., II. And Killed them like catiffes, in clowes all aboute.
1574. Robinson, Reward Wickedness. In hill, dale, and clough … in smooth or in rough.
1605. Verstegan, Dec. Intell., ix. 285. A clough or clowgh, is a kinde of breach or valley downe a slope from the side of a hill, where commonly shragges, and trees doe grow.
1674. Ray, N. C. Words, 10. Clough, a Valley between two steep hills.
1813. Hogg, Queen’s Wake, 228. The day-sky glimmered on the dew … And lurked in heath and braken clough [= cleugh].
1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood (1864), 23. Like a will-o’-the-wisp, or a boggart of the clough.
1855. Waugh, Lanc. Life (1857), 19. Descending into some quiet little clough.
1870. Hawthorne, Eng. Note-Bks. (1879), II. 310. There is a deep clough or dell.
1876. Whitby Gloss., Cleugh, or clufe, a rocky glen. Clufe-sled, the slope or slide of the chasm.
† 2. Occasionally it seems to have been = ‘cliff.’
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 941. The kyng coveris þe cragge wyth cloughes fulle hye.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4863. Hoge hillis þam beforn, Cloȝes at was cloude, he clynterand torres.
c. 1435. Torr. Portugal, 542. He herd the dragon, ther he lay Vndyr-nethe a clow [rhymes he drowe, swowe, i-nowe].
