Clout \Clout\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clouted; p. pr. & vb. n. Clouting.]

[OE. clutien. clouten, to patch. See Clout, n.]

1. To cover with cloth, leather, or other material; to bandage; patch, or mend, with a clout.

And old shoes and clouted upon their feet. --Josh. ix. 5.

Paul, yea, and Peter, too, had more skill in . . . clouting an old tent than to teach lawyers. --Latimer.

2. To join or patch clumsily.

If fond Bavius vent his clouted song. --P. Fletcher

3. To quard with an iron plate, as an axletree.

4. To give a blow to; to strike. [Low]

The . . . queen of Spain took off one of her chopines and clouted Olivarez about the noddle with it. --Howell.

5. To stud with nails, as a timber, or a boot sole.

Clouted cream, clotted cream, i. e., cream obtained by warming new milk. --A. Philips.

Note: ``Clouted brogues'' in Shakespeare and ``clouted shoon'' in Milton have been understood by some to mean shoes armed with nails; by others, patched shoes.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Clout \Clout\, n. [AS. cl[=u]t a little cloth, piece of metal; cf. Sw. klut, Icel. kl[=u]tr a kerchief, or W. clwt a clout, Gael. clud.]

1. A cloth; a piece of cloth or leather; a patch; a rag.

His garments, nought but many ragged clouts, With thorns together pinned and patched was. --Spenser.

A clout upon that head where late the diadem stood. --Shak.

2. A swadding cloth.

3. A piece; a fragment. [Obs.]

--Chaucer.

4. The center of the butt at which archers shoot; -- probably once a piece of white cloth or a nail head.

A'must shoot nearer or he'll ne'er hit the clout. --Shak.

5. An iron plate on an axletree or other wood to keep it from wearing; a washer.

6. A blow with the hand. [Low]

Clout nail, a kind of wrought-iron nail heaving a large flat head; -- used for fastening clouts to axletrees, plowshares, etc., also for studding timber, and for various purposes.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)