cleek

American  

[kleek] / klik /

noun

1. Chiefly Scot. a large hook, especially one fixed to the inside walls of a house to hold clothing, pots, or food.

2. Golf: Older Use. a club with an iron head, a narrow face, and little slope, used for shots from a poor lie on the fairway and sometimes for putting.

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verb (used with object)

claught, cleeked, claucht, cleeked, cleeking

1. Chiefly Scot. to grasp or seize (something) suddenly and eagerly; snatch.

cleek British  

/ kliːk /

noun

1. a large hook, such as one used to land fish

2. golf a former name for a club, corresponding to the modern No. 1 or No. 2 iron, used for long low shots

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Etymology

Origin of cleek

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English ( Scots ) cleke “hook,” derivative of cleke “to take hold of,” variant of cleche, akin to clutch ¹

Example Sentences

It was also an impressive feat, given that Terry and his teammates were hitting rubberlike gutta percha balls with handmade wooden-shafted clubs that, instead of numbers, bore names like brassie, niblick, spoon and cleek.

From New York Times • Oct. 31, 2021

"I accused them of telling me it's 'on cleek'."

From US News • Jun. 10, 2015

At the time, Niccol informed the audience of analysts and investors about the millennial phrase "on cleek," which he explained meant "on point."

From US News • Jun. 10, 2015

To the firm work of his putting cleek, a cut putt or a wide were rare exceptions.

From Time Magazine Archive

Iron.—An iron-headed club intermediate between the cleek and lofting mashie.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 2 "Gloss" to "Gordon, Charles George" by Various