■ noun
1》 informal a heavy blow.
2》 informal influence or power.
3》 archaic a piece of cloth or clothing.
4》 Archery a large target placed flat on the ground with a flag marking its centre and used in long-distance shooting.
5》 (also ~ nail ) a nail with a large, flat head, used especially in securing roofing felt.
■ verb
1》 informal hit hard.
2》 archaic mend with a patch.
Origin
OE clūt (in the sense 'a patch or metal plate'); related to cleat and clot .