cluck1

[kluhk] /klʌk/
verb (used without object)
1.
to utter the cry of a hen brooding or calling her chicks.
2.
to make a similar sound; express concern, approval, etc., by such a sound.
verb (used with object)
3.
to call or utter by clucking.
noun
4.
the sound uttered by a hen when brooding, or in calling her chicks.
5.
any clucking sound.
Origin
1475-85; variant of clock (now dial. and Scot), Middle English clokken, Old English cloccian to cluck; cognate with Dutch klokken

cluck2

[kluhk] /klʌk/
noun, Slang.
1.
a dull-witted, stupid person; blockhead; dolt.
Origin
1900-05, Americanism; special use of cluck1
Examples from the web for cluck
  • Each practice run produces the hum, then the cluck of wood, softened by the foam.
  • The plain cluck, many times, includes two or three single note clucks.
  • Hens cluck loudly after laying an egg, and also to call their chicks.
British Dictionary definitions for cluck

cluck

/klʌk/
noun
1.
the low clicking sound made by a hen or any similar sound
verb
2.
(intransitive) (of a hen) to make a clicking sound
3.
(transitive) to call or express (a feeling) by making a similar sound
Word Origin
C17: of imitative origin
Word Origin and History for cluck
v.

Old English cloccian originally echoic. Cf. Turkish culuk, one of the words for "turkey;" Greek klozein, Latin glocire, German glucken. Related: Clucked; clucking.

n.

1703, "sound made by a hen," from cluck (v.). Slang meaning "stupid person" (turkeys are famously foolish) is from 1927.

Slang definitions & phrases for cluck

cluck

noun
  1. A stupid person; idiot: The champion cluck of all time/ If I defend myself you two clucks are going to need a lot more backup (1920s+)
  2. A very dark black person (1950s+ Black)
Related Terms

dumb cluck