Clout vs Slap - What's the difference?

Clout is a related term of slap.

As nouns the difference between clout and slap

is that clout is influence or effectiveness, especially political while slap is a blow, especially one given with the open hand, or with something broad and flat.

As verbs the difference between clout and slap

is that clout is to hit, especially with the fist while slap is to give a slap.

As an adverb slap is

exactly, precisely.

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

slap

English

Noun

(en noun)

A blow, especially one given with the open hand, or with something broad and flat.

The sound of such a blow.

(slang, uncountable) Makeup, cosmetics.

Usage notes

Especially used of blows to the face (aggressive), buttocks, and hand, frequently as a sign of reproach. Conversely, used of friendly strikes to the back, as a sign of camaraderie.

Hyponyms

* cuff

Derived terms

* bitch-slap * slap in the face * pimp-slap

Verb

(slapp)

To give a slap.

She slapped him in response to the insult.

* 1922 , (Virginia Woolf), (w, Jacob's Room) Chapter 1

Mrs. Flanders rose, slapped her coat this side and that to get the sand off, and picked up her black parasol.

To cause something to strike soundly.

He slapped the reins against the horse's back.

To place, to put carelessly.

We'd better slap some fresh paint on that wall.

Derived terms

* slapper * slap-up

Hyponyms

* cuff

Adverb

(-)

Exactly, precisely

He tossed the file down slap in the middle of the table.

Synonyms

* just * right * slap bang * smack dab

Anagrams

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