C15: from Scottish Gaelic: probably from clach stone
clachan in American English
(ˈklaxən)
noun
Scottish and Irish
a hamlet
Word origin
Gael; prob. < clach, stone
clachan in American English
(ˈklɑːxən, ˈklæ-)
noun
Scot & Irish
a small village or hamlet
Word origin
[1375–1425; late ME (Scots) ‹ ScotGael, equiv. to clach stone + -an dim. suffix]This word is first recorded in the period 1375–1425. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: gauge, inventory, screw, skim, trick