The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
n. 1. a. Influence; pull: “Doctors have banded together into large negotiating groups in efforts to increase their clout” (George Anders). b. Power; muscle. 2. A blow, especially with the fist. 3. a. Baseball A long powerful hit. b. Sports An archery target. tr.v. clout·ed, clout·ing, clouts To hit, especially with the fist. [From Early Middle English, blow with the hand, slap, cuff, from Middle English, back of the hand, slap, probably from clout, cloth patch, metal plate, fragment; see CLOUT1.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.