Clap vs Peal - What's the difference?

Clap is a synonym of peal.

As nouns the difference between clap and peal

is that clap is the act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together or clap can be gonorrhea while peal is a loud sound, or a succession of loud sounds, as of bells, thunder, cannon, shouts, laughter, of a multitude, etc or peal can be a small salmon; a grilse; a sewin.

As verbs the difference between clap and peal

is that clap is to strike the palms of the hands together, creating a sharp sound while peal is to sound with a peal or peals.

clap

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)

The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together.

He summoned the waiter with a clap .

The explosive sound of thunder.

* 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.

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.

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.

A single, sudden act or motion; a stroke; a blow.

* Shakespeare

What, fifty of my followers at a clap !

(falconry) The nether part of the beak of a hawk.

(Yorkshire) A dropping of cow dung (presumably from the sound made as it hits the ground) Edward Peacock, A Glossary of Words Used in the Wapentakes of Manley and Corringham, Lincolnshire , p 188

* 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

Derived terms

* thunderclap

Verb

(Clapping)

To strike the palms of the hands together, creating a sharp sound.

The children began to clap in time with the music.

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.

To slap with the hand in a jovial manner.

He would often clap his teammates on the back for encouragement.

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.

To come together suddenly with noise.

* Dryden

The doors around me clapped .

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.

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.

(slang, AAVE) To shoot (somebody) with a gun.

Derived terms

* clapper * claptrap * clapperboard

Etymology 2

Uncertain.

Noun

(en noun)

Gonorrhea.

1997 MASH

* “What in hell 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 .

References

Anagrams

* ----

peal

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)

A loud sound, or a succession of loud sounds, as of bells, thunder, cannon, shouts, laughter, of a multitude, etc.

* 1883:

And, falling on a bench, he laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks, I could not help joining; and we laughed together, peal' after ' peal

* Hayward

a fair peal of artillery

* Shakespeare

whether those peals of praise be his or no

* Byron

and a deep thunder, peal' on ' peal , afar

A set of bells tuned to each other according to the diatonic scale.

The changes rung on a set of bells.

Verb

(en verb)

To sound with a peal or peals.

* 1864: , Christmas Bells

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep...

* 1939: , In My Merry Oldsmobile

To the church we'll swiftly steal, then our wedding bells will peal ,

You can go as far you like with me, in my merry Oldsmobile.

* 2006: New York Times

The bell pealed 20 times, clanging into the dusk as Mr. Bush’s motorcade drove off.

To utter or sound loudly.

* J. Barlow

The warrior's name, / Though pealed and chimed on all the tongues of fame.

To assail with noise.

* Milton

Nor was his ear less pealed .

To resound; to echo.

* Longfellow

And the whole air pealed / With the cheers of our men.

(UK, dialect) To pour out.

(Halliwell)

(obsolete) To appeal.

(Spencer)

Etymology 2

Uncertain.

Noun

(en noun)

A small salmon; a grilse; a sewin.

Anagrams

* * * ----