CLOUT

clout. Clout, n. a piece of cloth for cleanliness, a plate of iron on an axletree, a slender nail, a blow

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Clout (?), n. [[AS. clūt a little cloth, piece of metal; cf. Sw. klut, Icel. klūtr a kerchief, or W. clwt a clout, Gael. clud.]] 1. 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. 2. A swadding cloth.
3. 3. A piece; a fragment. Chaucer.
4. 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. 5. An iron plate on an axletree or other wood to keep it from wearing; a washer.
6. 6. A blow with the hand.
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.