May

[dutch25]

Never cast a clout till may be out, but is it the month or the flower?

[Quizmonster]

I think it's pretty well agreed nowadays that it refers to may-blossom or hawthorn, though many say the opposite. However, given that that generally appears in May, the month, maybe it makes little difference. It's the word 'out' that matters...that seems to fit the appearance of a flower much more closely than the arrival of a month.

[saxy_jag]

I think the flower/blossom/tree is more correct, but when my nan said that we would all took it to mean that we should keep our coats and vests on until May was out (ie., May had finished, rather than was arriving) as it can still be blimmin' cold in May. It's sensible advice, to an extent.

[Quizmonster]

So, you didn't get your winter woollies off until June, Saxy? Good grief!
"The snowdrops are out" surely means that they've appeared, not that they've disappeared. I can't imagine why it would be different for hawthorn-blossom.

[Kingaroo]

"a flower is out" means it's blooming

"a month is out" means it's over and done with, out the door, kaput, all gone, next month already

[Jibergrt]

The saying 'Ne'er cast a clout til May is out' is an old saying meaning do not take off your vest until May is over - because the weather can change (as we have seen this week!!) a Clout is an old fashioned word for a vest type thing.

[dutch25]

thanks, that makes more sense than anything else i have heard!

[luvbug69]

I researched the same saying some time ago

'Ne'er cast a clout till May be out' is an English proverb. The earliest citation is this version of the rhyme from Dr. Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732, although it probably existed in word-of-mouth form well before that:

"Leave not off a Clout Till May be out.

Meaning

'Cast a clout', although archaic, is straightforward. Clout is a noun, variously spelled as clowt, clowte, cloot, clute, but all meaning cloth or clothing.
So, 'ne'er cast a clout...' just means 'never discard your [warm winter] clothing...'.

The 'till May be out' part is where the doubt lies. On the face of it this would mean 'until [the month of] May is ended'.

The Hawthorn is a common tree of the English countryside, and it flowers in late April/early May. It is known as the May Tree and the blossom itself is called May. Using that allusion, 'till May is out' could mean, 'until the hawthorn is out [in bloom]'.

look at the full version of the explanation I found http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/till-may-is -out.html