clapper
/ˈklæpɚ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 2.92 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An object so suspended inside a bell that it may hit the bell and cause it to ring; a clanger or tongue.
noun
A wooden mechanical device used as a scarecrow; bird-scaring rattle, a wind-rattle or a wind-clapper.
noun
noun
noun
The chattering damsel of a mill.
noun
A slapshot
noun
The hinged part of a clapperboard, used to synchronise images and soundtrack, or the clapperboard itself.
Example Sentences
- ""Sir, sir! folks' tongues go like the clappers in the fields to drive away the blackbirds. A very little wind makes 'em rattle wonderfully.""
- "Emilia 'tis true could use her clapper with great Dexterity, but he had the same advantages against her, which this had against him; Olimpia 's Tongue was also well hung but she ever had reason on her side, which he with reason could never either blame or oppose, and by both these came his Fortune: […]"
- "It is still necessary to warn clergymen against allowing the lazy and pernicious practice of 'clappering,' i.e. tying the bell-rope to the clapper, and pulling it instead of the bell."
- "[W]hile he was away Hinzelmann began suddenly to clapper in the ladies' chamber like a stork, and then said, "Maid Anne, you much go look for your things to-day in the mill-stream.""
- "Poore cunnie so bagged, Is soone overlagged Plash burrow, set clapper, For dog is a snapper"
Etymology
Etymology tree English clap Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English clapper From clap + -er.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈklæpɚ/