1. power and influence: the power to direct, shape, or otherwise influence things
(
informal
)
2. punch: a blow with the hand or fist
(
informal
)
3. archery target: in archery, a mark or target, especially at a long distance
transitive verb (past and past participleclout·ed, present participleclout·ing, 3rd person present singularclouts)
Definition:
hit somebody with hand: to hit somebody or something hard with the hand
[ Old English clūt "patch made of cloth"]
Regional History
The use of clout to mean "power" and "influence" originated in Chicago, and has spread throughout Illinois and the United States since the 1960s and the administration of Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley.
