clunter

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈklʌn.tə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈklʌn.tɚ/

From Middle Dutch clonter (modern Dutch klonter (“lump, clod”), an extension of Middle Dutch clont (“shapeless mass, clump”), related to Middle Low German klunter, klünter (“lump”), German Low German Klunter (“clump, clod”), Saterland Frisian Kluntje (“sugar cube”).

• clunther

clunter (plural clunters)

1. (dialectal) A large mass or lump.
2. (dialectal) A clod of earth.

• clunterbush
• clunterhead

• cluntish

From Middle Dutch clonteren (“to clot”), whence Dutch klonteren (“to become lumpy”). Cognate with West Frisian klonterje (“to become lumpy”), German Low German kluntern (“to curdle”).

clunter (third-person singular simple present clunters, present participle cluntering, simple past and past participle cluntered)

1. (intransitive, dialectal) To become lumpy, run in clots; to coagulate, curdle.
2. (transitive, dialectal) To assemble clumsily.

Origin obscure. Cognate with Scots clanter (“to make a clattering noise”). Perhaps from Middle English clondren (“to drone, hum”); alternatively, from clunt (“to walk noisily; tread heavily”) +‎ -er (frequentative suffix). Compare also Middle Low German klunderen (“to rumble, make a noise”).

• clunther, clointer, clonter

clunter (third-person singular simple present clunters, present participle cluntering, simple past and past participle cluntered)

1. (intransitive, dialectal) To make noise with the feet while walking; to tread heavily.

• clunterer
• clunterfoot

clunter (plural clunters)

1. (dialectal) Clatter, noise.
2. (dialectal) Confusion.