Sc. and north. dial. Also 8 clowr, 9 cloor. [Cf. ON. klór a scratch (deriv. of kló claw); in Shetland cloor in same sense; but the meaning of the general northern word makes its identity with this doubtful.]

1

  1.  A swelling or bump (on the head) caused by a heavy blow which does not break the skin.

2

1508.  Dunbar, Ballad Kynd Kittok, 32. Sanct Petir hat hir with a club, quhill a gret clour [rhyme-wds. sour, pour] Rais in hir heid.

3

1715.  Pennecuik, Poems, Truth’s Trav., 94 (Jam.). All his head was full of clowrs.

4

[1866.  Edmondston, Gloss. Shetland (Philol. Soc.), Cloor, a scratch, as that made by a pin or by the claws of a cat.]

5

1876.  Robinson, Whitby Gloss., Clour, or Cloor … a lump raised by a blow.

6

  2.  A heavy blow or knock such as would raise a bump (on the head).

7

1785.  Burns, Ep. W. Simpson, Postscr. vii. Frae less to mair it gaed to sticks; Frae words an’ aiths to clours an’ nicks.

8

1815.  Scott, Guy M., xxiii. My head can stand a gay clour.

9

  b.  transf. A dint or bash made in anything.

10

1808.  Jamieson, Clour, a dint caused by a blow.

11

1821.  Blackw. Mag., X. 6. Her great adventure … but for her open-hearted innocency, would have left both cloors and dunkles in her character.

12

Mod. Sc.  Your hat’s got a clour.

13