Dictionary-Definition.com :: Clout definition

Definition of 'clout'

noun

A target used in archery

noun

Special advantage or influence; "the chairman's nephew has a lot of pull" [syn: pull, clout]

noun

A short nail with a flat head; used to attach sheet metal to wood [syn: clout nail, clout]

noun

(boxing) a blow with the fist; "I gave him a clout on his nose" [syn: punch, clout, poke, lick, biff, slug]

verb

Strike hard, especially with the fist; "He clouted his attacker"

From: GCIDE

Clout \Clout\ (klout), n. [AS. cl[=u]t a little cloth, piece of metal; cf. Sw. klut, Icel. kl[=u]tr a kerchief, or W. clwt a clout, Gael. clud.]
1. A cloth; a piece of cloth or leather; a patch; a rag. [1913 Webster]
His garments, nought but many ragged clouts, With thorns together pinned and patched was. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
A clout upon that head where late the diadem stood. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. A swadding cloth. [1913 Webster]
3. A piece; a fragment. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
4. The center of the butt at which archers shoot; -- probably once a piece of white cloth or a nail head. [1913 Webster]
A'must shoot nearer or he'll ne'er hit the clout. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
5. An iron plate on an axletree or other wood to keep it from wearing; a washer. [1913 Webster]
6. A blow with the hand. [Low] [1913 Webster]
Clout nail, a kind of wrought-iron nail heaving a large flat head; -- used for fastening clouts to axletrees, plowshares, etc., also for studding timber, and for various purposes. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Clout \Clout\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clouted; p. pr. & vb. n. Clouting.] [OE. clutien. clouten, to patch. See Clout, n.]
1. To cover with cloth, leather, or other material; to bandage; patch, or mend, with a clout. [1913 Webster]
And old shoes and clouted upon their feet. --Josh. ix. 5. [1913 Webster]
Paul, yea, and Peter, too, had more skill in . . . clouting an old tent than to teach lawyers. --Latimer. [1913 Webster]
2. To join or patch clumsily. [1913 Webster]
If fond Bavius vent his clouted song. --P. Fletcher [1913 Webster]
3. To quard with an iron plate, as an axletree. [1913 Webster]
4. To give a blow to; to strike. [Low] [1913 Webster]
The . . . queen of Spain took off one of her chopines and clouted Olivarez about the noddle with it. --Howell. [1913 Webster]
5. To stud with nails, as a timber, or a boot sole. [1913 Webster]
Clouted cream, clotted cream, i. e., cream obtained by warming new milk. --A. Philips. [1913 Webster]
Note: "Clouted brogues" in Shakespeare and "clouted shoon" in Milton have been understood by some to mean shoes armed with nails; by others, patched shoes. [1913 Webster]