what does the saying never cast a clout till mays out.?

Answer 1

It was originally "cast ne'er a cloot til May be oot" - well, in Scotland anyway. WHat it basically means is keep well wrapped up until it's May unless you want to catch a cold - the translation would roughly be "don't throw off any cloth until May"

Answer 2

May refers to the blossom of the hawthorn tree which does not bloom until the worst of the winter has past. Clout or cloot means material (fabric) or clothing. Simply the saying means keep dressed warmly until the winter is over regardless of the date.

Answer 3

most popular belief on this question is the last day of the month of May,"clout" being winter garments no longer needed during summer time.,dont suppose this applies to our British summers of course. Actually, what it does mean is for the auld yins like myself, dont cast off your winter claes until the "Mayflower is out" now, the may flower being "the blossom of the Hawthorn Bush", these trees are late flowerers,late month of May. So there U have it.

Answer 4

A Cloot is a coat. You don't cast it, in other words leave the house without it, until May's out because the weather is unpredictable until then. After May you can leave it as it's likely to be sunny.

Answer 5

i think it is to do with keeping your winter coat on until the end of May because the weather can still change until then. Mind u living in this country you'd be better just keeping it handy all year round

Answer 6

It could be dont discard outer clothing until May is over because of late frosts. But it might also mean dont discard outer clothing until the Mayflower (hawthorn)is in bloom

Answer 7

Stick to your winter woolies till June. You never know when Jack Frost could return.

Answer 8

Something to do with keeping your vest on