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. A swelling or bump (on the head) caused by a heavy blow which does not break the skin.
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.
1715. Pennecuik, Poems, Truths Trav., 94 (Jam.). All his head was full of clowrs.
[1866. Edmondston, Gloss. Shetland (Philol. Soc.), Cloor, a scratch, as that made by a pin or by the claws of a cat.]
1876. Robinson, Whitby Gloss., Clour, or Cloor a lump raised by a blow.
2. A heavy blow or knock such as would raise a bump (on the head).
1785. Burns, Ep. W. Simpson, Postscr. vii. Frae less to mair it gaed to sticks; Frae words an aiths to clours an nicks.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xxiii. My head can stand a gay clour.
b. transf. A dint or bash made in anything.
1808. Jamieson, Clour, a dint caused by a blow.
1821. Blackw. Mag., X. 6. Her great adventure but for her open-hearted innocency, would have left both cloors and dunkles in her character.
Mod. Sc. Your hats got a clour.