clout

clout
\ \ [OE] In Old English, a clout was a patch of cloth put over a hole to mend it. Hence in due course it came to be used simply for a ‘piece of cloth’, and by further extension for a ‘garment’ (as in ‘Ne’er cast a clout till May be out’).
\ \ However, the reason for its colloquial application to ‘hit, blow’, which dates from the 14th century, is not known, and indeed this may be an entirely different word. As for the word’s ultimate antecedents, it probably comes, along with cleat, clot, cluster, and clutter, from a prehistoric Germanic base *klut-, *kleut-, *klaut-.
\ \ Cf.CLEAT, CLOT, CLUSTER, CLUTTER

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Clout — can mean: A blow with the hand, and various meanings: see wikt:clout Social influence Political power, refers especially to power within a political organization. Clout (band), was a five piece South African million selling all girl rock group… …   Wikipedia

  • 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • clout — [klaʊt] noun [uncountable] the power or authority to influence other people s decisions: • AT&T and BT have sufficient market clout to win the support of wireless equipment manufacturers to help develop the technology …   Financial and business terms

  • clout — ► NOUN 1) informal a heavy blow. 2) informal influence or power. 3) archaic a piece of cloth or clothing. ► VERB informal ▪ hit hard. ● ne er cast a clout till May be out Cf. ↑ …   English terms dictionary

  • clout — clout; clout·ed; …   English syllables

  • clout — [n] power authority, influence, prestige, pull*, standing, sway, weight; concept 686 clout [v] hit blow, box, clip, clobber, cuff, rap, slap, smack, sock, strike, thump, wallop, whack; concepts 189,200 …   New thesaurus

  • Clout — Allgemeine Informationen Genre(s) Pop Gründung 1977 Auflösung 1981 Gründungsmitglie …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • clout — noun authoritative power, authority, consequence, controlling power, directing power, dominancy, dominion, eminence, force, hegemony, importance, influence, influentiality, leverage, mastership, notability, potency, power, power of impelling,… …   Law dictionary

  • clout — (n.) O.E. clut lump of something, also patch of cloth put over a hole to mend it, from P.Gmc. *klutaz (Cf. O.N. klute kerchief, Dan. klud rag, tatter, Fris. klut lump, Du. kluit clod, lump ); perhaps related to CLOT (Cf. clot) …   Etymology dictionary

  • clout — vb *strike, hit, smite, punch, slug, slog, swat, slap, cuff, box Analogous words: *beat, pummel, thrash, baste, belabor …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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