Etymology 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.
Informal Influence or effectiveness, especially political.
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 himself1975, Len O'Connor, Clout--Mayor Daley and His City, page 74:
[…]ethics officers themselves often complain that they can recommend but have little clout with which to create real change.1986, Tony Alessandra, The New Art of Managing People, page 76:
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But the rise of multiracialism is not all Kumbaya choruses and “postracial” identity. The N.A.A.C.P. criticized the census change, fearing that since so few in the black community are of fully African descent, mass attrition to a mixed-race option could threaten political clout and Federal financing.2008 March 23, Peggy Orenstein, “Mixed Messenger”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 06 Nov 2020:
The chopped mushrooms add depth to both the Waitrose and the Go-Go Vegan recipe, but what gives the latter some real clout on the flavour front is a teaspoon of Marmite.2011 December 15, Felicity Cloake, “How to cook the perfect nut roast”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 26 Nov 2021:
It's funny how they judge you when they see you made a change / I poured another four just to take away the pain / My friends weren't my friends, they was ^([sic]) looking for some clout / I had what they wanted so they always came around2017, Kimetrius Foose (Lil Skies), Myron Goedhart, “Fake”, performed by Lil Skies:
Rowan, like most teenagers on the internet, wasn’t after fame or money, though he made a decent amount — at one point $10,000 a month and more, he said. What Rowan wanted was clout. On the internet, clout is a social currency that can be used to obtain just about anything. Rack up enough while you’re young, and doors everywhere begin to open.2019 November 29, Taylor Lorenz, “Here’s What’s Happening in the American Teenage Bedroom”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 08 Aug 2021:
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A blow with the hand.
‘Such a clout on the ear as you gave me… But I soon taught you.’1910, Katherine Mansfield, Frau Brenchenmacher Attends A Wedding:
One of her goons gave him a clout on the ear.1985, Brian Daley, Jinx on a Terran Inheritance, page 338:
'... allowed Boston to score all of its runs on homers, including a pair of clouts by Jacoby Ellsbury ...'2011 August 17, Michael Vega, “Triple double”, in The Boston Globe, page C1:
For kings are clouts that euery man ſhoots at, Our Crowne the pin that thouſands ſeeke to cleaue.c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene iv:
A’ must shoot nearer or he’ll ne’er hit the clout.c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
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Dated, Regional A swaddling cloth, nappy, or loincloth.
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.1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chapter 12:
If we find clean water and clean towels we leave them money, either in their basins, or in their shoes; but if we find no clean water in their houses, we wash our children in their pottage, milk, or beer, or whatever we find: for the sluts that have not such things fitting, we wash their faces and hands with a gilded child's clout, or else carry them to some river and duck them over head and ears.1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 289:
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Archaic 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, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 129:
If I were mad, I ſhould forget my ſonne, / or madly thinke a babe of clowts were he; I am not mad: too well, too well I feele / The different plague of each clamitie.c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv], page 12, columns 1–2:
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[…] a clout upon that head Where late the diadem stood […]c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
We condol’d with each other, and observ’d how wretchedly we look’d, all naked, except a small Clout about our Middles […]1743, Robert Drury, The Pleasant, and Surprizing Adventures of Mr. Robert Drury, during his Fifteen Years Captivity on the Island of Madagascar, London, page 74:
The Byzantines, wrote Robert of Clari, hooted and jeered from the battlements, "and let down their clouts and showed them their backsides."1980, Colin Thubron, Seafarers: The Venetians, page 33:
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Archaic 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, James Edwin Thorold Rogers, A History of Agriculture and Prices in England, volume 1, page 546:
Etymology 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.
1
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?], John Heywood, The Playe Called The Foure PP […], London: […] Wyllyam Myddylton, →OCLC; reprinted as John S. Farmer, editor, The Play Called The Four PP […] (The Tudor Facsimile Texts), London; Edinburgh: […] T. C. & E. C. Jack, […], 1908, →OCLC, signature [E.ii.], verso:
A wizard? Him? How could he possibly be? He'd spent his life being clouted by Dudley, and bullied by Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon; if he was really a wizard, why hadn't they been turned into warty toads every time they'd tried to lock him in his cupboard?1997, J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, New York: Arthur A. Levine Books, published 1998, page 57:
2
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, Hugh Latimer, “[The Second Sermon of Master Hugh Latimer, which He Preached before the King’s Majesty, within His Grace’s Palace at Westminster, the Fifteenth Day of March, 1549.] To the Reader.”, in George Elwes Corrie, editor, Sermons by Hugh Latimer, Sometime Bishop of Worcester, Martyr, 1555 (The Works of Hugh Latimer; I), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] University Press, published 1844, →OCLC, page 110:
There was a cobbler clowting shoon, / When they were mended, they were done.1886, James Orchard Haliwell, The Nursery Rhymes of England, 5th edition, page 12:
3
To stud with nails, as a timber, or a boot sole.
4
To guard with an iron plate, as an axletree.
5
To join or patch clumsily.
if fond Bavius vent his clouted song1633, Phineas Fletcher, The Purple Island:
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, The Essex Review: