clout

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Old English clūt, from Proto-Germanic *klūtoz, from Proto-Indo-European *glūdos. Cognate with Old Norse klútr (“‘kerchief’”)^[1] (Swedish klut, Danish klud), Middle High German klōz (“‘lump’”) (German Kloß), dialect Russian глуда (gluda)^[2]. See also cleat.

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /klaʊt/, SAMPA: /"klaUt/
• Rhymes: -aʊt

[edit] Noun

clout (plural clouts)

1. Influence or effectiveness, especially political.
2. (regional, informal) A blow with the hand.
   • 1910, Katherine Mansfield, Frau Brenchenmacher Attends A Wedding

     'Such a clout on the ear as you gave me… But I soon taught you.'

3. (archery) The center of the butt at which archers shoot; probably once a piece of white cloth or a nail head.
4. (regional, dated) A swaddling cloth.
5. (archaic) A cloth; a piece of cloth or leather; a patch; a rag.
6. (archaic) An iron plate on an axletree or other wood to keep it from wearing; a washer.
   • 1866, James Edwin Thorold Rogers, A History of Agriculture and Prices in England, Volume 1, p. 546.

     Clouts were thin and flat pieces of iron, used it appears to strengthen the box of the wheel; perhaps also for nailing on such other parts of the cart as were particularly exposed to wear.

7. (obsolete) A piece; a fragment.

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to clout (third-person singular simple present clouts, present participle clouting, simple past and past participle clouted)

1. (uncommon) To hit, especially with the fist.

[edit] Translations

[edit] References

• Notes:

1. ^ clout in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
2. ^ clout in Merriam-Webster's Dictionary