Definition: (1) Lumps of mud on the shoes. (2) The mud itself from which the lumps are formed.

Usage: In the dialect known as Geordie, spoken in Northumberland around Newcastle-on-Tyne, you might be warned, "divvent waak in the clarts," meaning "do not walk in the mud." ("Geordie" is a Scottish affectionate form for "George.") If you do walk in the clarts, you will come home with clarty shoes or boots—or feet if you forgot to pull on your shoes or boots before going out.

Suggested Usage: Lumps usually do not fall away, if you think of lumps on your head or in your oatmeal. So speaking of lumps of mud on your shoes tests the extent of "lump's" meaning. That is where "clart" comes in handy, "Get the clarts off your shoes and pants before you come inside," gets to the point quicker—and saves you two words. This term is sometimes used to refer to lumps of other substances, too. Some speak of clarts of snow on their clothing and sheep-ranchers sometimes use the term to refer to an earlier Word of the Day, "dags" (for which see our Archives).

Etymology: Today's word has been around since at least the13th century but no one has any idea of its origin. It is distinguished from "glar," a word it could be related to, by its thick consistency. Glar has more of a liquid nature more likely to soak into your clothes.