Clout
/klaʊt/noun
Influence or prestige, especially in social or political settings; traditionally, a piece of cloth or a blow.
Did you know?The modern sense of clout meaning social or political influence likely developed from the older sense of a forceful blow: power became metaphorically something that could hit.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-West Germanic
Germanic
*klūt
“A patch, lump, or piece of material; the precise prehistoric formation is uncertain.”
Old English
Old English
clūt
“A piece of cloth or a patch used for mending.”
Middle English
Middle English
clout
“A cloth patch; also a piece of cloth used for practical purposes.”
14th Century
English
clout
“A small piece of cloth or a target, especially one marked on a stake for archery.”
19th Century
English
clout
“A heavy blow or strike, preserving the idea of forceful impact.”
20th Century
English
clout
“Influence, power, or prestige, particularly in political and social contexts.”