/CLAP-meaning

/ CLAP

// Verb.

// Pronunciation: klæp.

// Etymology: from Middle English clappen. 

// Preterite tense: clapped (klæpt) or clapt. Preterite participle: clapped or clapt.

// Present participle: clapping.

// It is dated from 1300.

// Intransitive: 1. Obsolete meanings: a. (Of a thing, as thunder) to make an explosive noise. b. (Of a bell) to tinkle. c. To strike so as to make a noise; to knock (for example, at a door); to strike with a sounding blow, as with the fist; to rap upon a door or gate in order to call attention.

// 2. To talk loudly. (It’s scarcely documented).

‘What are you clapping about?’

G Graham… Brighton… 1938

// 3. (Of a window or door) to shut with a clap or with violence and noise.

// Synonyms for “clap”: bang, slam.

// Translation: claquer, in French; cerrarse de golpe, in Spanish; essere sbattuta, in Italian.

Before we could get to the end of the gallery, we heard the door of the great chamber clap behind us, but we did not dare turn back to see if the giant was following us

H. Walpole… The Castle of Otranto… 1764

Within the house, windows clattered, and doors clapped.

Scott… Redgauntlet… 1824

… she rushed through the garden-gate. As it clapped behind her, she knew she was safe, and then fell insensible on the ground.

Littell's Living Age… 1859

// 4. (Of a person) to strike the hands together in applause; to applaud.

… and the young mother in the orchestra leaned forward to nod her sympathy to me while she clapped.

Howells… Literature… 1902

And raising his hands high, Fiorsen clapped and called out: "Brava!"

Galsworthy… Beyond… 1917

// Transitive: // 1. To join or strike together (two bodies) with a clap or noise. 

"No," said Mr. Rogers, with a voice which had the flat, succinct sound of two pieces of wood clapped together. "Mrs. Rogers is still in Chicago." 

Howells… The Rise... 1884

2. (Of a person or thing) to shut (a door or window) with a clap or with violence and noise. (Obsolete meaning). Often construed with “to”.

// Translation: claquer, in French; cerrar de golpe, in Spanish; sbattere, in Italian.

// Synonyms: bang, slam.

" My dearest father, it is I, your daughter." Manfred, stepping back hastily, cried, " Begone! I do not want a daughter ;"and, flinging back abruptly, clapped the door against the terrified Matilda.

H. Walpole… The Castle of Otranto… 1764

… she threw Laura away, and clapped to the door.

Holcroft… Anna… 1792

… he clapped down the window again…

Dickens… Life… 1843

[He] clapped his little door behind him, as if the unwonted spectacle were too much for his feelings.

Dickens… The Cricket… 1845

I sprang up, seized the handle of the port-hole window, and tried to tighten it. In my ignorance and fright, I turned it the wrong way; in poured the dirty water. There stood I, clapping the window to with all my might, but utterly unable either to fasten it or to hold it tight enough to keep out the water.

H. Jackson… Glimpses… 1886

// 3. a. To strike (one’s hands) together so as to make an expressive or significative noise (in token of applause, delight, encouragement, etc.). b. To show approval of (a person, a work, etc.) by clapping the hands; to applaud.

The aria was received with… [delight]; thrice he was obliged to repeat it. Even Corthell, who was critical to extremes, approved, nodding his head. Laura and Page clapped their hands till the very last.

F. Norris… The Pit… 1798

When they re-entered the parlour, the queen clapped her hands, and two female attendants entered.

Scott… Anne of Geierstein… 1829

… if they clap him, he does not stand still to enjoy their applause.

The Annual biography… 1837

"O! I am so glad, so very glad," and I clapped my hands with joy; "is she very young, dear papa? and is she very, very pretty?"

M. Blessington… The Works… 1838

I confess I was bewildered! But my astonishment was increased when my master walked into a saloon opposite to a large assembly, who clapped their hands at his appearance.

A. Crowquill… A bundle of crowquills… 1854

// 4. To slap or strike (a person) with the palm of the hand, in token of approval or encouragement.

They clap him on the back kindly enough when he returns, after shipwreck, with money in his pocket.

Thackeray… The Newcomes… 1854

Mason clapped him on the shoulder. "You're just the sort of a gent we need," he declared. 

Max Brand… The Rangeland Avenger… 1922

// 5. (Obsolete meaning) to strike (a thing; for exemple, a dough) with a flat surface, so as to smooth or flatten.

// 6. Of a bird: to move (its wings), with a noise.

// Synonym: flap.

If the eagle appeared brisk, clapped her wings, and sported in the air.

J. Robinson… Archaeologia Graeca… 1827

From the sound, I thought it clapped its wings whilst settled on the ground, as well as whilst flying, but cannot be sure either of this or that it did settle.

Zoologist… 1899

// 7. To cause to get into or be in some place or position, with promptness.

// Synonym: apply, place, put, set.

// With the prepositions “on, upon, to, into, etc.”:

Lady Berkeley after dinner clapped my hat on another lady’s head.

Swift… The Journal to Stella… 1766

… he clapped the parchment upon the table with a report that made every fibre in my frame quiver.

Ainsworth… Mervyn… 1858

I was too frightened to say aught; but the Wagoner muttered something in the long man's ear, and gave him my bundle and money and the letter; and then I was clapped up on a pillion behind the long man, who had clomb up to the saddle of a vicious horse that went sideways.

G. Sala… Captain… 1863

Obenreizer clapped his hand on Vendale’s mouth and pointed to the track behind them.

Dickens and W. Collins… No Thoroughfare… 1867

He clapped his hand upon a little bell on the table, and one of the stalwart, sunbrowned clerks entered.

J. Altsheler… The Free Rangers… 1909

Then with a frightened gesture, she clapped her hand upon her mouth.

"You will say nothing of it, Herr Johann?" she pleaded. "It is a secret from all but a few."

J. Altsheler… The Hosts… 1915

… he clapped his ear to the keyhole and listened, holding his breath.

M. Brand… The Rangeland Avenger… 1922

//  Reflexively:

I would have gone directly out of the house, but she clapped herself before the door, and told me, I must first pay the bottle of wine I had the evening before

D. Defoe… The Memoirs… 1741

At last you rose up, and took a turn or two about the room; when, all of a sudden, and to my great surprise, you clapped yourself on my knee, threw your arms about my neck.

Correspondence… Hume to Rousseau… 1766

He clapped himself down in an old arm-chair.

W. Howitt… The hall… 1847

// In particular: to put (someone) in prison, with promptitude; to imprison. Hence: to clap up: to imprison with little or no formality.

At first, these rumours were disregarded as idle tales, wholly destitute of foundation, for nobody in Scotland-yard doubted that if the Lord Mayor contemplated any such dark design, he would just be clapped up in the Tower for a week or two, and then killed off for high treason.

Dickens… Sketches… 1836

For this, the unreasonable villains clapped me into jail.

Edgar Poe… The Narrative… 1838

// In a jocose way: to clap eyes on: to get a sight of.

As stout an old vagabond as I ever clapped eyes on.

Mackay… Longbeard 1850

// 8. Metaphor: a. To place (a sentinel, guard, etc.). b. To impose (writ, duty, copyright, name, etc.).

// 9. Metaphorical and archaic: to clap up: to make, or settle hastily (a match, agreement, peace, league, etc.), without much care. 

// Words derived from the verb CLAP: clapper (noun, verb), clapping, clap (noun).

 

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