Clout n.
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. [Obs.]
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. [Low]
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.
clout nail
n : a short nail with a flat head; used to attach sheet metal to
wood [syn: clout]