clout

American  

[klout] / klaʊt /

noun

1. a blow, especially with the hand; cuff.

   The bully gave him a painful clout on the head.

2. Informal. pull; strong influence; muscle, especially political power.

   a wealthy campaign contributor with clout at city hall.

3. Baseball. a long hit, especially an extra-base hit.

   A hard clout to deep center field drove in the winning run.

4. Archery.

   1. the mark or target shot at, especially in long-distance shooting.

   2. a shot that hits the mark.

5. Also called clout nail.  a nail for attaching sheet metal to wood, having a short shank with a broad head.

6. Archaic.

   1. a patch or piece of cloth or other material used to mend something.

   2. any worthless piece of cloth; rag.

   3. an article of clothing (usually used contemptuously).

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verb (used with object)

1. to strike, especially with the hand; cuff.

2. Archaic.

   1. to bandage.

   2. to patch; mend.

clout British  

/ klaʊt /

noun

1. informal a blow with the hand or a hard object

2. power or influence, esp in politics

3. archery

   1. the target used in long-distance shooting

   2. the centre of this target

   3. a shot that hits the centre

4. Also called: clout nail.  a short, flat-headed nail used esp for attaching sheet metal to wood

5. dialect

   1. a piece of cloth

      a dish clout

   2. a garment

   3. a patch

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verb

1. informal to give a hard blow to, esp with the hand

2. to patch with a piece of cloth or leather

Usage

What else does clout mean? To have clout is to have influence or power. In popular culture, people with clout are seen as popular and cool.

Other Word Forms

• clouter noun

Etymology

Origin of clout

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English clūt “piece of cloth or metal”; cognate with Middle Low German klūte, Old Norse klūtr

Example Sentences

Holyrood has some tax and welfare powers that could be used to help address these problems but Westminster has much greater financial clout.

From BBC

For China, growing economic clout is a point of pride and a sign of geopolitical strength.

From The Wall Street Journal

The winner receives a company contract that doesn’t pay in cash — it pays in clout, Hartline joked.

From Los Angeles Times

The deal shows how the media sector, while fraught with changes in technology and customer habits, continues to attract trophy hunters who want the clout and gravitas of informing the world.

From The Wall Street Journal

Under Xi, China has become a global economic force, which has also boosted its geopolitical clout.

From BBC

Related Words

• influence
• prestige
• sway
• weight