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Punch vs Clout - What's the difference?

punch | clout | Synonyms |

As nouns the difference between punch and clout

is that punch is a hit or strike with one's fist while clout is influence or effectiveness, especially political.

As verbs the difference between punch and clout

is that punch is to strike with one's fist while clout is to hit, especially with the fist.

As a proper noun Punch

is a glove puppet who is the main character used in a Punch and Judy show.

punch

English

(wikipedia punch)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) punchen, partially from (etyl) .

Noun

  • (countable) A hit or strike with one's fist.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=November 3 , author=Chris Bevan , title=Rubin Kazan 1 - 0 Tottenham , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Another Karadeniz cross led to Cudicini's first save of the night, with the Spurs keeper making up for a weak punch by brilliantly pushing away Christian Noboa's snap-shot.}}
  • (uncountable) Power, strength, energy.
  • (uncountable) Impact.
  • (countable) A button (of a joypad, joystick or similar device) whose only or main current function is that when it is pressed causes a video game character to punch.
  • Synonyms
    * (A strike with the fist) box, bunch of fives (UK) * oomph, pep
    Hyponyms
    * (A strike with the fist) jab, hook, uppercut, pounding
    Derived terms
    * beat somebody to the punch * kidney punch * one-two punch * pleased as punch * pull punches * punch drunk * roll with the punches * Sunday punch
    See also
    * (A strike with the fist) slap

    Verb

    (es)
  • To strike with one's fist.
  • If she punches me, I'm gonna break her nose.
  • (of cattle) To .
  • To operate (a device or system) by depressing a button, key, bar, or pedal, or by similar means.
  • *
  • * '>citation
  • *
  • To enter (information) on a device or system.
  • To hit (a ball or similar object) with less than full force.
  • He punched a hit into shallow left field.
  • To make holes in something
  • To thrust against; to poke.
  • to punch one with the end of a stick or the elbow
    Synonyms
    * (To strike with the fist) box
    Derived terms
    * punch above one's weight * punch below one's weight

    Etymology 2

    Shortened form of puncheon, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (es)
  • (countable) A device, generally slender and round, used for creating holes in thin material, for driving an object through a hole in a containing object, or to stamp or emboss a mark or design on a surface.
  • (countable) A mechanism for punching holes in paper or other thin material.
  • (countable) A hole or opening created with a punch
  • (piledriving) An extension piece applied to the top of a pile; a dolly.
  • A prop, as for the roof of a mine.
  • See also
    * centrepunch, centre punch * nail punch * three-hole punch

    Verb

  • To employ a punch to create a hole in or stamp or emboss a mark on something.
  • To mark a ticket.
  • Hypernyms
    * (to create a hole) perforate, pierce
    Derived terms
    * punch in * punch out

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

  • (uncountable) A beverage, generally containing a mixture of fruit juice and some other beverage, often alcoholic.
  • See also

    * punch drunk ----

    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