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.
Meanings
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.
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. 1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[[Episode 12: The Cyclops]]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC:
With each clap of thunder echoing from one high building to another the noise was terrific. 1953 July, Allen Rowley, “First Impressions of American Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 493:
Any loud, sudden, explosive sound made by striking hard surfaces together, or resembling such a sound.
Give the door such a clap, as you go out, as will shake the whole room. 1731 (date written; published 1745), [Jonathan] Swift, Directions to Servants […], London: […] R[obert] Dodsley, […], and M. Cooper, […], →OCLC:
Off in the distance, he heard the clap of thunder.
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.
But it took him a long time to get down-stairs, and a still longer to undo the fastenings, repenting (I dare say) and taken with fresh claps of fear at every second step and every bolt and bar. 1886 May 1 – July 31, Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped, being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: […], London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 1886, →OCLC:
What, fifty of my followers at a clap! c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:
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)
“Oh! get some coo clap (cow dung), mix it wi’ fish oil (whale oil), put it on, and let it stop on all neet.” 1890, John Nicholson, Folk Lore of East Yorkshire, page 139:
es palmeo (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · ml കൊട്ട് (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · mk ракоплескање (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · bg хлопване (Any loud, sudden, explosive sound) · fi läimäys (slap with the hand) · ru хлопо́к (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · egl bāter (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · ml കരഘോഷം (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · de Knall (Any loud, sudden, explosive sound) · ga boiseog (slap with the hand) · ru хлопо́к (Any loud, sudden, explosive sound) · ko 박수 (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · hu tapsol (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · ml കൈയ്യടി (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · te కరతాళము (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · bg пляскане (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · ml ഘോഷം (Any loud, sudden, explosive sound) · grc κρότος (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · he מְחִיאַת כַּף (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · es palmoteo (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · es plauso (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · fo klapping (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · ar تَصْفِيق (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · acw صَفَّق (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · de Schlag (Any loud, sudden, explosive sound) · es aplauso (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · pl klask (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · pt palma (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · bg трясък (Any loud, sudden, explosive sound) · aii ܟ̰ܲܦܵܐ (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · it battere (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · de Klatschen (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · ca aplaudiment (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · hu taps (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · fi pamaus (Any loud, sudden, explosive sound) · fi taputus (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · hy ծափ (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · es palma (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · yo ìpàtẹ́wọ́ (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · ml കൈകൊട്ട് (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · mi pakipaki (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · mk тресок (Any loud, sudden, explosive sound) · bg ръкопляскане (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · it pacca (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · bal چاپ (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · ja 拍手 (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · pt estouro (Any loud, sudden, explosive sound) · jje 손뻭 (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · ja 手拍子 (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together) · fo klappan (The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together)
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.
Meanings
(intransitive) To strike the palms of the hands together, creating a sharp sound.
The children began to clap in time with the music.
To hear a flutter echo, all one needs is a pair of parallel surfaces (and they need not be very large), stand between them, and clap hands. Nowhere else in the vast garden were there any flutters. 2008, Floyd E. Toole, Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms, Elsevier:
(transitive) To applaud.
“George is all very well on platforms,” said Bundle. “I’ve clapped him myself, though of course I know all the time that he’s talking balderdash.[…]” 1925, Agatha Christie, The Secret of Chimneys:
The audience loudly clapped the actress, who responded with a deep curtsey.
It isn’t the singers they are clapping; it's the composer.
(transitive) To slap with the hand in a jovial manner.
He would often clap his teammates on the back for encouragement.
(ambitransitive) 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.
[…] Pipes, who acted as the enemy's forlorn hope, advanced to the gate with great intrepidity, and clapping his foot to the door, which was none of the ſtouteſt, with the execution and diſpatch of a petard, ſplit it into a thouſand pieces. 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, “He is Concerned in a Dangerous Adventure with a Certain Gardener; […]”, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume I, London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC, page 134:
Then like a bird it sits and sings,
Then whets and claps its silver wings. 1681, Andrew Marvell, The Garden:
(obsolete) To slam (a door or window); formerly often construed with to.
Her fear gave her strength; she threw Laura away, and clapped to the door. 1792, Thomas Holcroft, Anna St. Ives, vol. VII, letter 119:
Hostesse clap to the doores. c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene v]:
The doors around me clapped. 1677 (first performance), John Dryden, All for Love: Or, The World Well Lost. A Tragedy, […], [London]: […] Tho[mas] Newcomb, for Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC, (please specify the page number):
(transitive) To create or assemble (something) hastily (usually followed by up or together).
The rival factions clapped up a truce.
We should clap together a shelter before nightfall.
(transitive) To set or put, usually in haste.
Clap an extinguisher upon your irony. 1823, Elia [pseudonym; Charles Lamb], Elia. Essays which have Appeared under that Signature in The London Magazine, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC:
The sheriff clapped him in jail.
She was the prettiest thing I'd ever clapped eyes on.
He had just time to get in and clap to the door. 1693, [John Locke], “§138”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC:
(qualifier:African-American Vernacular, slang) To shoot (somebody) with a gun.
(broadly, slang, transitive) To defeat.
He started a fight but then got clapped immediately.
uk ля́снути (To bring two surfaces together forcefully, creating a sharp sound) · uk плеска́ти (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · pl bić brawo (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · ml കൈയ്യടിക്കുക (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · tr şak (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · th ปรบมือ (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · bg ръкопляскам (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · sh pljeskati (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · th ตบมือ (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · ja 手を叩く (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · mk плеска (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · uli hachoabchoab (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · ru хло́пать (To bring two surfaces together forcefully, creating a sharp sound) · de klatschen (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · mk сплескува (To create or assemble (something) hastily) · ar صَفَّق (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · mk аплауди́ра (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · bg скалъпвам (To create or assemble (something) hastily) · uk плеска́ти (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · es dar palmas (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · de klatschen (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · ca fer mans balletes (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · uk аплодува́ти (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · sh pljeskati (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · chr ᏓᏏᏛᏂᎭ (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · pt bater palmas (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · ml കൈകൊട്ടുക (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · it applaudire (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · cs tleskat (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · pl klaskać (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · fi taputtaa (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · fr jeter (To set or put, usually in haste) · bg пляскам (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · ru хло́пать (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · nl applaudisseren (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · bg хлопвам (To bring two surfaces together forcefully, creating a sharp sound) · be пля́скаць (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · eo klaki (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · hi ताली बजाना (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · sl ploskati (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · mk ракоплеска (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · chr ᏓᏏᏛᏂᎭ (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · th ตบมือ (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · ca aplaudir (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · de zusammenbasteln (To create or assemble (something) hastily) · mi pakipaki (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · jje 손뻭치다 (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · fi kyhätä (To create or assemble (something) hastily) · ru хло́пнуть (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · be пля́скаць (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · es palmear (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · es hacer palmas (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · ru хло́пнуть (To bring two surfaces together forcefully, creating a sharp sound) · ca aplaudir (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · sk tlieskať (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · fr applaudir (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · eo aplaŭdi (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · fo klappa (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · ar صَفَّقَ (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · es palmotear (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · uk ля́скати (To bring two surfaces together forcefully, creating a sharp sound) · uk рукоплеска́ти (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · cmn 拍手 (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · de applaudieren (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · ru аплоди́ровать (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · ml കൈകൊട്ടുക (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · ru хло́пать (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · oc ronçar (To set or put, usually in haste) · es batir palmas (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · fi taputtaa (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · bg аплодирам (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · es ovacionar (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · sk tlieskať (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · ml കൈയ്യടിക്കുക (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · cs tleskat (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · es dar palmas (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · nl klappen (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · pl klaskać (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · ko 박수를 치다 (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · cmn 鼓掌 (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · nn klappa (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · de improvisieren (To create or assemble (something) hastily) · fr balancer (To set or put, usually in haste) · hu tapsol (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · grc κροτέω (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · sl ploskati (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · pt aplaudir (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · es aplaudir (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · yo pàtẹ́wọ́ (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · el χειροκροτώ (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · ckb چەپڵە لێدان (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · bg тряскам (To bring two surfaces together forcefully, creating a sharp sound) · he מחא כפיים (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · nl klappen (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · de knallen (To bring two surfaces together forcefully, creating a sharp sound) · he כַּף מָחָא (intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together) · ja 拍手する (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands) · lt ploti (transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands)
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.
Meanings
(slang, usually, with-definite-article) Synonym of gonorrhea.
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, Dan Savage, Savage Love, page 229:
Gonorrhea, sometimes called the clap, is caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. [2006, Alvin Silverstein, Virginia Silverstein, Laura Silverstein Nunn, The STDs Update, page 40:
He thought I had given him the clap [gonorrhea], but I knew I didn't. 1980, Ruth Bell, Changing Bodies, Changing Lives, page 295:
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. 1961 November 10, Joseph Heller, “The Soldier in White”, in Catch-22 […], New York, N.Y.: Simon and Schuster, →OCLC, page 172:
With the mischiefe of the melt and maw,
The clape and the canker,— 1821 [1580 September 14], Alexander Montgomerie, “The Flyting”, in The Poems of Alexander Montgomery, page 115:
“What in hell makes you think he's got the clap?” Hawkeye asked. “Even a clap doctor can't diagnose it through a parka.” 1972, Richard Hooker, MASH, page 32:
One result of the sexual revolution was the spread of venereal disease to near-epidemic proportions. The clap was, as one writer put it, “one of the hangups of the new morality.” 1991, Timothy Miller, The hippies and American values, University of Tennessee Press, →ISBN, page 63: