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Webster 1913 Edition


Clack

Clack

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Clacked
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Clacking
.]
[Prob. of imitative origin; cf. F.
claquer
to clap, crack, D.
klakken
, MHG.
klac
crack, Ir.
clagaim
I make a noise, ring. Cf.
Clack
,
Noun.
,
Clatter
,
Click
.]
1.
To make a sudden, sharp noise, or a succesion of such noises, as by striking an object, or by collision of parts; to rattle; to click.
We heard Mr.Hodson’s whip
clacking
on the ahoulders of the poor little wretches.
Thackeray.
2.
To utter words rapidly and continually, or with abruptness; to let the tongue run.

Clack

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To cause to make a sudden, sharp noise, or succession of noises; to click.
2.
To utter rapidly and inconsiderately.
Feltham.
To clack wool
,
to cut off the sheep's mark, in order to make the wool weigh less and thus yield less duty
.
[Eng.]

Clack

,
Noun.
[Cf. F.
claque
a slap or smack, MHG.
klac
crack, W.
clec
crack, gossip. See
Clack
,
Verb.
T.
]
1.
A sharp, abrupt noise, or succession of noises, made by striking an object.
2.
Anything that causes a clacking noise, as the clapper of a mill, or a clack valve.
3.
Continual or importunate talk; prattle; prating.
Whose chief intent is to vaunt his spiritual
clack
.
South.
Clack box
(Mach.)
,
the box or chamber in which a clack valve works.
Clack dish
,
a dish with a movable lid, formerly carried by beggars, who clacked the lid to attract notice.
Shak.
Clack door
(Mining)
,
removable cover of the opening through which access is had to a pump valve.
Clack valve
(Mach.)
,
a valve; esp. one hinged at one edge, which, when raised from its seat, falls with a clacking sound.

Webster 1828 Edition


Clack

CLACK

, v.i.
1.
To make a sudden sharp noise, as by striking or cracking; to clink; to click.
2.
To utter words rapidly and continually, or with sharp, abrupt sounds; to let the tongue run.

CLACK

, n.
1.
A sharp, abrupt sound continually repeated, such as is made by striking an object, or by bursting or cracking; continually talk; as, we do not wish to hear his clack; a common expression. Hence the word is used for the tongue, the instrument of clacking.
2.
The instrument that strikes the hopper of a grist-mill, to move or shake it, for discharging the corn. And according to Johnson, a bell that rings when more corn is required to be put in.
To clack wool, is to cut off the sheeps mark, which makes it weigh less, and yield less duty.

Definition 2024


clack

clack

English

Noun

clack (plural clacks)

  1. An abrupt, sharp sound, especially one made by two hard objects colliding repetitively; a sound midway between a click and a clunk.
  2. Anything that causes a clacking noise, such as the clapper of a mill, or a clack valve.
  3. Clatter; prattle.
    • South
      Whose chief intent is to vaunt his spiritual clack.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

clack (third-person singular simple present clacks, present participle clacking, simple past and past participle clacked)

  1. (intransitive) To make a sudden, sharp noise, or succession of noises; to click.
    • Thackeray
      We heard Mr. Hodson's whip clacking on the shoulders of the poor little wretches.
  2. (transitive) To cause to make a sudden, sharp noise, or succession of noises; to click.
  3. To chatter or babble; to utter rapidly without consideration.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Feltham to this entry?)
    • 1953, Janice Holt Giles, The Kentuckians
      The women bunched up in little droves and let their tongues clack, and the men herded together and passed a jug around and, to tell the truth, let their tongues clack too.
  4. (Britain) To cut the sheep's mark off (wool), to make the wool weigh less and thus yield less duty.

Translations