Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1900-2000
Origin: clout 'heavy hit' (14-21 centuries)

clout

1 noun
     
clout1
1 [uncountable] informal power or the authority to influence other people's decisions
political/economic etc clout
people with financial clout
the clout to do something
Few companies have the clout to handle such large deals.
An official protest could carry considerable clout.
2 [countable] British English informal a hard blow given with the hand:
He gave him a clout round the ear.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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