Definition

1. Noun:

   • A hard hit, especially with the hand: A forceful blow, typically delivered with a closed fist.
   • Power, influence, or special advantage: The ability to affect decisions, people, or events, often due to position or connections.
   • A piece of cloth or leather, especially one used for patching or cleaning: An old or informal term for a rag or cloth.
   • A target in archery: A mark or target, historically a white cloth or a circle on the ground, used for shooting at with arrows.
   • A short, large-headed nail: A nail with a broad, flat head, used for attaching materials like sheet metal to wood.

2. Verb:

   • To hit hard, especially with the hand: To strike someone or something forcefully, often with a fist.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Blow):
  • He received a sharp clout on the ear for his insolence.
  • The boxer's final clout knocked his opponent to the canvas.
• Noun (Influence):
  • The company used its political clout to lobby for favorable regulations.
  • She has a lot of clout in the fashion industry, so her opinion matters.
• Noun (Cloth/Target/Nail):
  • He cleaned the spill with an old clout. (archaic/regional)
  • The archer aimed carefully at the clout.
  • Secure the metal sheet with clouts.
• Verb:
  • The angry player clouted the ball over the fence.
  • In the old story, the father threatened to clout his disobedient son.

Advanced Usage

• "Pull/Have clout": To possess significant influence or power.
  • As a senior partner, he has the clout to make major decisions.
• "Political/Economic clout": Specifying the domain in which influence is held.
  • The nation's economic clout allows it to set global trade terms.

Variants and Related Words

• Clout nail (n): A specific type of short, large-headed nail.
• Clout shooting (n): The sport of archery at a ground target (the clout).

Synonyms

• Noun (Blow): Hit, punch, smack, wallop, thump.
• Noun (Influence): Influence, power, sway, pull, leverage, authority.
• Verb: Hit, strike, punch, smack, wallop, belt.

Related Phrases

• "In the clout!": An archery term historically used as an exclamation to signify a hit on the target.

Noun

1. (boxing) a blow with the fist
   • I gave him a clout on his nose
2. a short nail with a flat head; used to attach sheet metal to wood
3. special advantage or influence
   • the chairman's nephew has a lot of pull
4. a target used in archery

Verb

1. strike hard, especially with the fist
   • He clouted his attacker