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I suppose lots of islands have them, but they're great. This spot on Flotta is my favourite place in the world and the water here is the most beautiful deep green. A bit of paradise. Not sure where the name comes from. Any idea anyone?
View Large VersionPicture added on 03 October 2008
One other word for a clett is a stub or stump, so maybe these cletts are stumps of rock.
Added by S Taylor on 04 October 2008
The Dictionary of the Scots Language (DSL)
DSL - SND1
CLET, CLETT, KLETT, n. A detached rock, gen. in the sea, but occasionally applied also to isolated rocks on the land (as distinct from those showing on the face of a hill) (Sh., Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl., clet, klett; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Cai. 1825 Jam.2, clet; Cai.7 1937). In pl.: ``lowlying rocks on the coast'' (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)), ``so clotted and cloven that it is difficult to walk over them'' (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., kletts). [klt]
*Sh.(D) 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 133:
``Gjöd keep my sowl!'' tinks I, as I jimpid ower end, an' begood ta rub oot o' me een, ``ir we ashore apo' da klett?''
*Cai. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 XI. 247-248:
The haven of Brough, close by the Head, is well sheltered from every wind but the N.W.; and a smal expence might render it secure against it too, by throwing a pier from the land to a large clett, or out-standing rock, which is about 100 yards from the shore.
[O.N. klettr, a rock, crag (Zoëga). Cf. CLINT.]
DSL - SND1
CLET, CLETT, KLETT, n. A detached rock, gen. in the sea, but occasionally applied also to isolated rocks on the land (as distinct from those showing on the face of a hill) (Sh., Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl., clet, klett; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Cai. 1825 Jam.2, clet; Cai.7 1937). In pl.: ``lowlying rocks on the coast'' (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)), ``so clotted and cloven that it is difficult to walk over them'' (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., kletts). [klt]
*Sh.(D) 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 133:
``Gjöd keep my sowl!'' tinks I, as I jimpid ower end, an' begood ta rub oot o' me een, ``ir we ashore apo' da klett?''
*Cai. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 XI. 247-248:
The haven of Brough, close by the Head, is well sheltered from every wind but the N.W.; and a smal expence might render it secure against it too, by throwing a pier from the land to a large clett, or out-standing rock, which is about 100 yards from the shore.
[O.N. klettr, a rock, crag (Zoëga). Cf. CLINT.]
Added by Wolfgang Schlick on 05 October 2008
the cleats on a sailing boat where the halyards were tied off were called cletts by the older sailors.
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Added by John Schollay on 06 October 2008
Flotta
