Sekirov Dictionary

clout

/klaʊt/

noun 9
verb 6
forms 3
phrases 2

noun9

•
(informal) Influence or effectiveness, especially political.
- […]ethics officers themselves often complain that they can recommend but have little clout with which to create real change. — 1986
•
A blow with the hand.
- ‘Such a clout on the ear as you gave me… But I soon taught you.’ — 1910
•
(informal) A home run.
- '... allowed Boston to score all of its runs on homers, including a pair of clouts by Jacoby Ellsbury ...' — 2011
A clout nail.
(old-fashioned) A swaddling cloth, nappy, or loincloth.
•
The center of the butt at which archers shoot; probably once a piece of white cloth or a nail head.
- For kings are clouts that euery man shoots at, Our Crowne the pin that thousands seeke to cleaue. — 1587
•
(no longer used) A cloth; a piece of cloth or leather; a patch; a rag.
- His garment nought but many ragged clouts, / With thornes together pind and patched was, / The which his naked sides he wrapt abouts — 1590
•
(no longer used) An iron plate on an axletree or other wood to keep it from wearing; a washer.
- 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. — 1866
(no longer used) A piece; a fragment.

verb6

•
To hit (someone or something), especially with the fist.
- The wolde some mayster perhappes clowt ye / But as for me ye nede nat doute ye / For I had leuer be without ye / Then haue suche besynesse aboute ye. — 1545
•
To cover with cloth, leather, or other material; to bandage, patch, or mend with a clout.
- Paul, yea, and Peter, too, had more skill in mending an old net, and in clouting an old tent than to teach lawyers what diligence they should use in the expedition of matters. — 1549
To join or patch clumsily.
To stud with nails, as a timber, or a boot sole.
To guard with an iron plate, as an axletree.
•
(old-fashioned) Dated form of clot.
- He tells us how to butter eggs, boil eels, clout cream, stew capons, how to make a fine cake, an almond pudding and a raspberry conserve, […] — 1948

forms

clouted · clouting · clouts

Phrases with clout

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