[A parallel form to CLOCK v.2 which is found in OE. (cloccian), while cluck is of much later appearance, and has not all the senses. The u forms prevail in other Teutonic langs., MHG. klucken, glucken, Ger. glucken, Da. klukke, Sw. klucka, dial. klocka. Of imitative origin: see CLOCK v.2]
1. intr. Of fowls: To make the sound described under CLUCK sb.
1611. Cotgr., Glosser, to clucke, or clocke, as a Henne.
1687. [see CLUCKING].
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Poultry, All Hens … after they have done laying, will cluck, and for some time keep to their Nests, which is a sign they would sit.
1791. Boswell, Johnson, an. 1764. Making his tongue play backwards from the roof of his mouth, as if clucking like a hen.
1829. Southey, Pilgr. Compostella, III. The Hen she cluck’d in sympathy, And the Cock he crow’d aloud.
† 2. trans. To call (chickens) by this sound. Obs.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, v. (Arb.), 10. I [Chaunteclere] … wente to my chyldren and clucked hem to gydre.
a. 1658. Cleveland, Upon a Miser, 46. The Fowl whom he had cluck’d [1651 clockt] under his wing.
† b. fig. To call as a hen does her chickens.
1613. Nashe, Christ’s T., 50. With sweet songs I haue allur’d, cluckt [ed. 1593 clockt], and wooed her to come vnder my wings.
1658. Manton, Exp. Jude, Wks. 1871, V. 58. The turtle that chirpeth upon the church’s hedges, that he may cluck sinners to himself.
1687. R. L’Estrange, Answ. Diss., 47. ’Tis the Main Drift of his Discourse, to Cluck the Dissenters over to him, and Gather them under his Wing.
3. intr. To make a similar sound; to make the click or cluck of the Hottentots.
Hence Cluck- vb. stem in combination, as † cluck-hen, see quot. and cf. clock-hen.
1598. Florio, Chioccia, a clocking or sitting hen, a brood hen or a clucke hen.
