adj. and adv. (colloquial and expletive).—1. Entirely; altogether; e.g., CLEAN GONE, CLEAN BROKE, etc. Employed by the best writers until a recent date, and scarce colloquial even now.
1888. W. E. HENLEY, A Book of Verses, ‘Ballade of a Toyokuni Colour-Print.’
| Child, although | |
| I have forgotten CLEAN, I know | |
| That in the shade of Fujisan, | |
| What time the cherry orchards blow, | |
| I loved you, once, in old Japan. |
1890. MARK RUTHERFORD (‘Reuben Shapcott’), Miriam’s Schooling, p. 11. The memory of the battle by the hill Moreh is CLEAN forgotten.
2. Expert; smart.
1878. CHARLES HINDLEY, The Life and Times of James Catnach. ‘The Song of The Young Prig.’
| The CLEANEST angler on the pad, | |
| In daylight or the darky. |
