clunter

C3L1U1N1T1E1R1
UK/ˈklʌn.tə/US/ˈklʌn.tɚ/

noun

A large mass or lump.

OriginMiddle Dutch clonter ← Proto-Germanic *klunta- →
Scrabble 9
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Meanings

clunter1

nounclunter (plural clunters)

plural clunters · alternative clunther

  1. dialectalA large mass or lump.
  2. dialectalA clod of earth.

clunter2

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

present singular third person clunters · participle present cluntering · participle past cluntered · past cluntered

  1. dialectalintransitiveTo become lumpy, run in clots; to coagulate, curdle.
  2. dialectaltransitiveTo assemble clumsily.

clunter3

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

present singular third person clunters · participle present cluntering · participle past cluntered · past cluntered · alternative clunther · alternative clointer · alternative clonter

  1. dialectalintransitiveTo make noise with the feet while walking; to tread heavily.
nounclunter (plural clunters)

plural clunters · alternative clunther · alternative clointer · alternative clonter

  1. dialectalClatter, noise.
  2. dialectalConfusion.

Origin

clunter · noun

  1. Proto-Germanic*klunta-
  2. Middle Dutchclont“shapeless mass, clump”
  3. Middle Dutchclonter
  4. Englishclunter

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

More words from Middle Dutch, Proto-Germanic

Full word history & related roots →

clunter · verb

  1. Middle Dutchclonteren“to clot”
  2. Englishclunter

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”).

More words from Middle Dutch

Full word history & related roots →

clunter · verb, noun

  1. Middle Englishclondren“to drone, hum”
  2. Englishclunter

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”).

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

clunter. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clunter

MLA

“clunter.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clunter. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “clunter,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clunter.

Source: clunter on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.