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. 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. 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.
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.