Claps

Part of speech: verb, noun

Pronunciation: /klæps/

Definitions

1. A sharp sound produced by striking the palms together, often used to express appreciation or approval
2. the act of bringing hands together forcefully in rhythm, typically in a social context
3. to make a sudden loud noise by colliding two objects or surfaces, showcasing excitement or triumph

Etymology: "Claps" is simply the third-person singular and plural form of the verb "clap," so its history is the history of that verb. The verb comes from Middle English "clappen," which descends from Old English "clæppan," and it reaches back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to clap." Its cousins survive across the North Sea and Scandinavia: Dutch "klappen," Icelandic "klappa," and Danish "klappe" all mean the same thing, which shows how old and widespread the sound-imitating word is. The noun "clap" has a far less pleasant story. Its origin is uncertain, but one candidate is an Old French word "clapoir," meaning a bubo or infected swelling, itself possibly linked to "clapier," slang for a brothel. A more striking possibility is that the noun refers to an old and dangerous treatment for gonorrhea, in which the penis was clapped between a book and a hard surface to try to break up urethral obstructions. That sense is attested from the 16th century, though whether it gave rise to the noun or was a later association remains unsettled.

Synonyms: applauds, cheers, ovates, acclaims, approves

Antonyms: boos, jeers, hisses