clapper

[ klap-er ]

/ ˈklæp ər /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for clapper on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person who applauds.

the tongue of a bell.

Slang. the tongue.

Usually clappers. two flat sticks held between the fingers and struck rhythmically against each other to produce abrupt, sharp sounds.

Printing. a platen press.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of clapper

First recorded in 1250–1300, clapper is from the Middle English word claper.See clap¹, -er¹

Words nearby clapper

Clapham Sect, clap-net, clapometer, clap on, clapped-out, clapper, clapperboard, clapper bridge, clapperclaw, clapper rail, clappy-doo

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use clapper in a sentence

But why was James Clapper the man chosen to pick them up from Pyongyang?
To Free American Prisoners, America’s Top Spy Goes to North Korea|Shane Harris|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In March, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper confirmed this in a letter to Congress.
House Votes to Defund NSA ‘Backdoor’ Searches|Joshua Kopstein|June 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Asked whether the National Security Agency collects “any type of data at all on millions of Americans,” Clapper said, “No, sir.”
Ron Wyden and Rand Paul, the Senate's NSA-Busting ‘Ben Franklin Caucus’|Eleanor Clift|June 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Instead, Clapper responded with an egregious falsehood, if not an outright lie.
Ron Wyden and Rand Paul, the Senate's NSA-Busting ‘Ben Franklin Caucus’|Eleanor Clift|June 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Wyden made news last year when he caught Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper in an obvious lie.
Ron Wyden and Rand Paul, the Senate's NSA-Busting ‘Ben Franklin Caucus’|Eleanor Clift|June 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A clapper of conies, a heap of stones, &c., whereinto they retire themselves'; Cotgrave.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems|Geoffrey Chaucer
We had gained the Bell-and-Clapper Station as he spoke: two minutes yet before the train for the city would be in.
Johnny Ludlow, Fourth Series|Mrs. Henry Wood
After staying there awhile and giving satisfaction, she changed to the refreshment-room at the Bell-and-Clapper.
Johnny Ludlow, Fourth Series|Mrs. Henry Wood
“I got it safe enough; it was directed to the Bell-and-Clapper room,” returned Lizzie.
Johnny Ludlow, Fourth Series|Mrs. Henry Wood
By this time, Jonas had got the leather off so far, that he could get at the clapper to mend it.
Rollo's Philosophy. [Air]|Jacob Abbott

British Dictionary definitions for clapper

clapper

/ (ˈklæpə) /

noun

a person or thing that claps

a contrivance for producing a sound of clapping, as for scaring birds

Also called: tongue a small piece of metal suspended within a bell that causes it to sound when made to strike against its side

a slang word for tongue (def. 1)

go like the clappers, run like the clappers or move like the clappers British informal to move extremely fast

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

clapper

Origin of clapper

Words nearby clapper

Words related to clapper

How to use clapper in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for clapper