Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Clout

//klaʊt// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun

1
Influence or effectiveness, especially political. countable, informal, uncountable
"Having relinquished his clout in City Council to run for a place on the county board, and having lost stature by reason of his failure to win the presidency, Duffy was in no position to seek the party chairmanship for himself"
2
(boxing) a blow with the fist wordnet
3
A blow with the hand. countable, uncountable
"‘Such a clout on the ear as you gave me… But I soon taught you.’"
4
a short nail with a flat head; used to attach sheet metal to wood wordnet
5
A home run. countable, informal, uncountable
"'... allowed Boston to score all of its runs on homers, including a pair of clouts by Jacoby Ellsbury ...'"

Show 8 more definitions

6
special advantage or influence wordnet
7
The center of the butt at which archers shoot; probably once a piece of white cloth or a nail head. countable, uncountable
"For kings are clouts that euery man ſhoots at, Our Crowne the pin that thouſands ſeeke to cleaue."
8
a target used in archery wordnet
9
A swaddling cloth. countable, dated, regional, uncountable
"When a new-hatched savage running wild about his native woodlands in a grass clout, followed by the nibbling goats, as if he were a green sapling; even then, in Queequeg’s ambitious soul, lurked a strong desire to see something more of Christendom than a specimen whaler or two."
10
A cloth; a piece of cloth or leather; a patch; a rag. archaic, countable, uncountable
"His garment nought but many ragged clouts, / With thornes together pind and patched was, / The which his naked sides he wrapt abouts;"
11
An iron plate on an axletree or other wood to keep it from wearing; a washer. archaic, countable, uncountable
"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."
12
A clout nail. countable, uncountable
13
A piece; a fragment. countable, obsolete, uncountable

Verb

1
To hit (someone or something), especially with the fist. transitive
"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."
2
Dated form of clot. alt-of, dated, transitive
"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, […]"
3
strike hard, especially with the fist wordnet
4
To cover with cloth, leather, or other material; to bandage, patch, or mend with a clout. transitive
"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."
5
To stud with nails, as a timber, or a boot sole. transitive

Show 2 more definitions

6
To guard with an iron plate, as an axletree. transitive
7
To join or patch clumsily. transitive
"if fond Bavius vent his clouted song"

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English clout (“piece of cloth”), from Old English clūt (“piece of cloth, patch; metal plate”), from Proto-West Germanic *klūt, from Proto-Germanic *klūtaz, from Proto-Indo-European *gelewdos, from Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“to ball up, amass”). The influence sense originated in the dialect of Chicago, but has become widespread. Cognate with Old Norse klútr (“kerchief”), Swedish klut, Danish klud, Middle High German klōz (“lump”), whence German Kloß (“clump”), and dialectal Russian глуда (gluda). See also cleat.

Etymology 2

Next best steps

Find stronger synonyms See usage examples Check pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: clout