clap
noun
- the result of quickly bringing hands together, making a noise
verb
- to bring hands together for applause
- strike, as hands
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /klæp/
noun
Etymology: Uncertain. Probably from Old French clapoir (“bubo, inflammation from infection”), from clapier (“brothel”). May also be from old, unsafe treatments for gonorrhea, such as clapping the penis between a book and a hard surface to break up obstructions in the urethra and permit urination. Attested from the 16th century.
- Synonym of gonorrhea.
“With the mischiefe of the melt and maw, / The clape and the canker,—”
“I stepped out of my tent in Marrakech one night to get a bar of candy and caught your dose of clap when that Wac I never even saw before hissed me into the bushes.”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English clappen, from Old English clæppan, *clappian, from Proto-West Germanic *klappijan, *klappōn, from Proto-Germanic *klappōną (“to clap”). Cognate with Dutch klappen, Icelandic klappa, Faroese klappa and Danish klappe.
- 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.”
- To slam (a door or window); formerly often construed with to.
“Hostesse clap to the doores.”
“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.”
- To shoot (somebody) with a gun.
- To defeat.
“He started a fight but then got clapped immediately.”
- To have sex, fornicate, copulate.