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Webster 1913 Edition

Clap

Clap

(klăp)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Clapped
(klăpt)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Clapping
.]
[AS.
clappan
; akin to Icel. & Sw.
klappa
, D,
klappen
, to clap, prate, G.
klaffen
, v. i., to split open, yelp,
klopfen
, v. t. & i., to knock.]
1.
To strike; to slap; to strike, or strike together, with a quick motion, so, as to make a sharp noise;
as, to
clap
one’s hands; a
clapping
of wings
.
Then like a bird it sits and sings,
And whets and
claps
its silver wings.
Marvell.
2.
To thrust, drive, put, or close, in a hasty or abrupt manner; – often followed by to, into, on, or upon.
He had just time to get in and
clap
to the door.
Locke
Clap
an extinguisher upon your irony.
Lamb.
3.
To manifest approbation of, by striking the hands together; to applaud;
as, to
clap
a performance
.
To clap hands
.
(a)
To pledge faith by joining hands.
[Obs.]
Shak.
(b)
To express contempt or derision.
[Obs.]
Lam. ii. 15.
–
To clap hold of
,
to seize roughly or quickly.
–
To clap up
.
(a)
To imprison hastily or without due formality.
(b)
To make or contrive hastily.
[Obs.]
“Was ever match clapped up so suddenly?”
Shak.

Clap

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To knock, as at a door.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
2.
To strike the hands together in applause.
Their ladies bid them
clap
.
Shakespeare
3.
To come together suddenly with noise.
The doors around me
clapped
.
Dryden.
4.
To enter with alacrity and briskness; – with to or into.
[Obs.]
“Shall we clap into it roundly, without . . . saying we are hoarse?”
Shak.
5.
To talk noisily; to chatter loudly.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.

Clap

(klăp)
,
Noun.
1.
A loud noise made by sudden collision; a bang.
“Give the door such a clap, as you go out, as will shake the whole room.”
Swift.
2.
A burst of sound; a sudden explosion.
Horrible
claps
of thunder.
Hakewill.
3.
A single, sudden act or motion; a stroke; a blow.
What, fifty of my followers at a
clap
!
Shakespeare
4.
A striking of hands to express approbation.
Unextrected
claps
or hisses.
Addison.
5.
Noisy talk; chatter.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
6.
(Falconry)
The nether part of the beak of a hawk.
Clap dish
.
See
Clack dish
, under
Clack
,
Noun.
–
Clap net
,
a net for taking birds, made to close or clap together.

Clap

,
Noun.
[Cf. OF.
clapoir
.]
Gonorrhea.

Webster 1828 Edition

Clap

CLAP

, v.t.
1.
To strike with a quick motion, so as to make a noise by the collision; to strike with something broad, or having a flat surface; as, to clap the hands; to clap the wings.
2.
To thrust or drive together; to shut hastily; followed by to; as, to clap to the door or gate.
3.
To thrust or drive together; to put one thing to another by a hasty or sudden motion; followed by to, on or in; as, to clap the hand to the mouth; to clap spurs to a horse; to clap on a saddle.
4.
To thrust; to put, place or send; followed by in, into, under, over, &c.; as, to clap one under the hatches; to clap one into Bedlam; to clap a board over a pit.
5.
To applaud; to manifest approbation or praise by striking the hands together; as, to clap a performance on the stage.
6.
To infect with venereal poison.
To clap up, to make or complete hastily; as, to clap up a peace.
To imprison hastily, or with little delay.

CLAP

, v.i.
1.
To move or drive together suddenly with noise.
The doors around me clapt.
2.
To enter on with alacrity and briskness; to drive or thrust on; as we say to reapers or mowers, clap in, or clap to, that is, enter on the work, begin without delay, begin briskly.
3.
To strike the hands together in applause.
Bid them clap.

CLAP

, n.
1.
A driving together; a thrust and collision of bodies with noise, usually bodies with broad surfaces.
Give the door a clap.
2.
A sudden act or motion; a thrust.
Pay all debts at one clap.
3.
A burst of sound; a sudden explosion; as a clap of thunder.
4.
An act of applause; a striking of hands to express approbation.
5.
A venereal infection.
6.
With falconers, the nether part of the beak of a hawk.

Definition 2024

clap

clap

English

Noun

clap ‎(plural claps)

Two men clapping.
  1. The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together.
    He summoned the waiter with a clap.
  2. The explosive sound of thunder.
    • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses Episode 12, The Cyclops
      The deafening claps of thunder and the dazzling flashes of lightning which lit up the ghastly scene testified that the artillery of heaven had lent its supernatural pomp to the already gruesome spectacle.
  3. Any loud, sudden, explosive sound made by striking hard surfaces together, or resembling such a sound.
    Off in the distance, he heard the clap of thunder.
    • Jonathan Swift
      Give the door such a clap, as you go out, as will shake the whole room.
  4. A slap with the hand, usually in a jovial manner.
    His father's affection never went further than a handshake or a clap on the shoulder.
  5. A single, sudden act or motion; a stroke; a blow.
    • Shakespeare
      What, fifty of my followers at a clap!
  6. (falconry) The nether part of the beak of a hawk.
  7. (Yorkshire) A dropping of cow dung (presumably from the sound made as it hits the ground) [1]
    • 1890, John Nicholson, Folk Lore of East Yorkshire, page 139
      “Oh! get some coo clap (cow dung), mix it wi’ fish oil (whale oil), put it on, and let it stop on all neet.”
Synonyms
  • (sound of thunder): thunderclap
  • See also Wikisaurus:applause
Derived terms
Translations

Verb

clap ‎(third-person singular simple present claps, present participle clapping, simple past and past participle clapped or (archaic) clapt)

  1. To strike the palms of the hands together, creating a sharp sound.
    The children began to clap in time with the music.
  2. To applaud.
    The audience loudly clapped the actress, who responded with a deep curtsey.
    It isn’t the singers they are clapping; it's the composer.
  3. To slap with the hand in a jovial manner.
    He would often clap his teammates on the back for encouragement.
  4. To bring two surfaces together forcefully, creating a sharp sound.
    He clapped the empty glass down on the table.
    She clapped the book shut.
    He clapped across the floor in his boots.
    • Marvell
      Then like a bird it sits and sings, / And whets and claps its silver wings.
  5. To come together suddenly with noise.
    • Dryden
      The doors around me clapped.
  6. To create or assemble (something) hastily (usually followed by up or together).
    We should clap together a shelter before nightfall.
    The rival factions clapped up a truce.
  7. To set or put, usually in haste.
    The sheriff clapped him in jail.
    She was the prettiest thing I'd ever clapped eyes on.
    • John Locke
      He had just time to get in and clap to the door.
    • Lamb
      Clap an extinguisher upon your irony.
  8. (slang, African American Vernacular) To shoot (somebody) with a gun.
Derived terms
Translations

See also

Etymology 2

Uncertain.

Noun

clap ‎(plural claps)

  1. (slang, with "the") Gonorrhea.
    • 1997 MASH
    • “What in **** makes you think he's got the clap?” Hawkeye asked. “Even a clap doctor can't diagnose it through a parka
      1998 Dan Savage
    • When I explained that I thought he had given me the clap, he said I must be mistaken, it had to be someone I'd “tricked” with at ... He'd never had an STD in his life, he told me, and slammed down the phone.
      1998 Changing Bodies
    • He thought I had given him the clap [gonorrhea], but I knew I didn't.
      2006 The STDs Update
    • Gonorrhea, sometimes called the clap, is caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
    I'm gonna kill that bitch for giving me the clap!
    If your dick has "the drip" you probably have the clap and need to go to the sex clinic.
    He wasn't careful; he caught both syphilis and the clap.
Translations

References

  1. ↑ Edward Peacock, A Glossary of Words Used in the Wapentakes of Manley and Corringham, Lincolnshire, p 188

Anagrams

Catalan

Noun

clap m ‎(plural claps)

  1. patch

French

Noun

clap m ‎(plural claps)

  1. clapperboard

Etymology

From Old English clæppan.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /klæp/
  • Rhymes: -æp

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