n. 1. A contrivance for clapping in theaters. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A trick or device to gain applause, especially pretentious but empty rhetoric; humbug. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. Contrived for the purpose of making a show, or gaining applause; deceptive; unreal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A loud noise made by sudden collision; a bang. “Give the door such a clap, as you go out, as will shake the whole room.” Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A burst of sound; a sudden explosion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Horrible claps of thunder. Hakewill. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A single, sudden act or motion; a stroke; a blow. [ 1913 Webster ]

What, fifty of my followers at a clap! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A striking of hands to express approbation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Unextrected claps or hisses. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Noisy talk; chatter. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Falconry) The nether part of the beak of a hawk. [ 1913 Webster ]

Clap dish. See Clack dish, under Clack, n. --
Clap net, a net for taking birds, made to close or clap together. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. clapoir. ] Gonorrhea. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Clapped p. pr. & vb. n. Clapping. ] [ AS. clappan; akin to Icel. & Sw. klappa, D, klappen, to clap, prate, G. klaffen, v. i., to split open, yelp, klopfen, v. t. & i., to knock. ] 1. To strike; to slap; to strike, or strike together, with a quick motion, so, as to make a sharp noise; as, to clap one's hands; a clapping of wings. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then like a bird it sits and sings,
And whets and claps its silver wings. Marvell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To thrust, drive, put, or close, in a hasty or abrupt manner; -- often followed by to, into, on, or upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

He had just time to get in and clap to the door. Locke [ 1913 Webster ]

Clap an extinguisher upon your irony. Lamb. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To manifest approbation of, by striking the hands together; to applaud; as, to clap a performance. [ 1913 Webster ]

To clap hands. (a) To pledge faith by joining hands. [ Obs. ] Shak. (b) To express contempt or derision. [ Obs. ] Lam. ii. 15. --
To clap hold of, to seize roughly or quickly. --
To clap up. (a) To imprison hastily or without due formality. (b) To make or contrive hastily. [ Obs. ] “Was ever match clapped up so suddenly?” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To knock, as at a door. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To strike the hands together in applause. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their ladies bid them clap. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To come together suddenly with noise. [ 1913 Webster ]

The doors around me clapped. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To enter with alacrity and briskness; -- with to or into. [ Obs. ] “Shall we clap into it roundly, without . . . saying we are hoarse?” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To talk noisily; to chatter loudly. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cover with clapboards; as, to clapboard the sides of a house. [ U. S. ] Bartlett. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A narrow board, thicker at one edge than at the other; -- used for weatherboarding the outside of houses. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A stave for a cask. [ Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. Oatmeal cake or bread clapped or beaten till it is thin. [ Obs. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A bird; the flicker. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. clapier. ] A rabbit burrow. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A person who claps. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which strikes or claps, as the tongue of a bell, or the piece of wood that strikes a mill hopper, etc. See Illust. of Bell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Clapper rail (Zool.), an Americam species of rail (Rallus scepitans). [ 1913 Webster ]