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Clout vs Cuff - What's the difference?

clout | cuff | Related terms |

Clout is a related term of cuff.


In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between clout and cuff

is that clout is (obsolete) a piece; a fragment while cuff is (obsolete) glove; mitten.

As nouns the difference between clout and cuff

is that clout is influence or effectiveness, especially political while cuff is (obsolete) glove; mitten or cuff can be a blow, especially with the open hand; a box; a slap.

As verbs the difference between clout and cuff

is that clout is to hit, especially with the fist while cuff is to furnish with cuffs or cuff can be to hit, as a reproach, particularly with the open palm to the head; to slap.

clout

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Influence or effectiveness, especially political.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=December 15 , author=Felicity Cloake , title=How to cook the perfect nut roast , work=Guardian citation , page= , passage=The chopped mushrooms add depth to both the Waitrose and the Go-Go Vegan recipe, but what gives the latter some real clout on the flavour front is a teaspoon of Marmite. Vegetarian tweeter Jessica Edmonds tells me her boyfriend likes a similar recipe because "it tastes of Twiglets!". I'm with him – frankly, what's Christmas without a Twiglet? – but Annie Bell's goat's cheese has given me an idea for something even more festive. Stilton works brilliantly with parsnips, providing a savoury richness which feels a little more special than common or garden yeast extract. Blue cheese calls to mind the chestnuts used by Mary Berry of course, and now I'm on a roll, I pop in some sage and onion too, in a nod to the classic festive stuffing. }}
  • (regional, informal) A blow with the hand.
  • * 1910 , , Frau Brenchenmacher Attends A Wedding
    • 'Such a clout on the ear as you gave me… But I soon taught you.'
  • (informal) A home run.
  • * 2011 , , "Triple double", in The Boston Globe , August 17, 2011, p. C1.
    • '... allowed Boston to score all of its runs on homers, including a pair of clouts by Jacoby Ellsbury ...'
  • (archery) The center of the butt at which archers shoot; probably once a piece of white cloth or a nail head.
  • * Shakespeare
    • A' must shoot nearer or he'll ne'er hit the clout .
  • (regional, dated) A swaddling cloth.
  • (archaic) A cloth; a piece of cloth or leather; a patch; a rag.
  • * Spenser
    • His garments, nought but many ragged clouts , / With thorns together pinned and patched was.
  • * Shakespeare
    • a clout upon that head where late the diadem stood
  • *
  • (archaic) An iron plate on an axletree or other wood to keep it from wearing; a washer.
  • * 1866 , , A History of Agriculture and Prices in England , Volume 1, p. 546.
    • Clouts were thin and flat pieces of iron, used it appears to strengthen the box of the wheel; perhaps also for nailing on such other parts of the cart as were particularly exposed to wear.
  • (obsolete) A piece; a fragment.
    • (Chaucer)

    Derived terms

    * breech-clout * clout list * clout-nail * ne'er cast a clout til May be out

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To hit, especially with the fist.
  • To cover with cloth, leather, or other material; to bandage; patch, or mend, with a clout.
  • * Latimer
    • Paul, yea, and Peter, too, had more skill in clouting an old tent than to teach lawyers.
  • To stud with nails, as a timber, or a boot sole.
  • To guard with an iron plate, as an axletree.
  • To join or patch clumsily.
  • * P. Fletcher
    • if fond Bavius vent his clouted song

    References

    cuff

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) cuffe, .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) glove; mitten.
  • The end of a shirt sleeve that covers the wrist.
  • The end of a pants leg, folded up.
    • Related terms
    * cufflinks * turnup * off-the-cuff

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To furnish with cuffs.
  • To handcuff.

    • Etymology 2

    1520, “to hit”, apparently of (etyl) origin, from (etyl) . More at (l), (l), (l).

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To hit, as a reproach, particularly with the open palm to the head; to slap.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again.
  • * Dryden
    • They with their quills did all the hurt they could, / And cuffed the tender chickens from their food.
  • To fight; to scuffle; to box.
  • * Dryden
    • While the peers cuff to make the rabble sport.
  • To buffet.
  • * Tennyson
    • cuffed by the gale

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A blow, especially with the open hand; a box; a slap.
  • * Spenser
    • Snatcheth his sword, and fiercely to him flies; / Who well it wards, and quitten cuff with cuff.
  • * Hudibras
    • Many a bitter kick and cuff .