In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.
CLAPPING
applause, hand clapping, clapping
(noun) a demonstration of approval by clapping the hands together
CLAP
clap, spat
(verb) clap one’s hands together; “The children were clapping to the music”
applaud, clap, spat, acclaim
(verb) clap one’s hands or shout after performances to indicate approval
clap
(verb) strike together so as to produce a sharp percussive noise; “clap two boards together”
clap
(verb) strike with the flat of the hand; usually in a friendly way, as in encouragement or greeting
clap
(verb) put quickly or forcibly; “The judge clapped him in jail”
clap
(verb) strike the air in flight; “the wings of the birds clapped loudly”
clap
(verb) cause to strike the air in flight; “The big bird clapped its wings”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
clapping
present participle of clap
Noun
clapping (plural clappings)
The action by which someone or something claps.
Source: Wiktionary
CLAP
Clap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Clapping.] Etym: [AS. clappan; akin to Icel. & Sw. klappa, D, klappen, to clap, prate, G. klaffen, v.i., to split open, yelp, klopfen, v.t. & i., to knock.]
1. To strike; to slap; to strike, or strike together, with a quick motion, so, as to make a sharp noise; as, to clap one's hands; a clapping of wings. Then like a bird it sits and sings, And whets and claps its silver wings. Marvell.
2. To thrust, drive, put, or close, in a hasty or abrupt manner; -- often followed by to, into, on, or upon. He had just time to get in and clap to the door. Locke Clap an extinguaisher upon your irony. Lamb.
3. To manifest approbation of, by striking the hands together; to applaud; as, to clap a performance. To clap hands. (a) To pledge faith by joining hands. [Obs.] Shak. (b) To express contempt or derision. [Obs.] Lam. ii. 15. To clap hold of, to seize roughly or quickly.
– To clap up. (a) To imprison hastily or without due formality. (b) To make or contrive hastily. [Obs.] "Was ever match clapped up so suddenly" Shak.
Clap, v. i.
1. To knock, as at a door. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To strike the hands together in applause. Their ladies bid them clap. Shak.
3. To come together suddenly with noise. The doors around me clapped. Dryden.
4. To enter with alacrity and briskness; -- with to or into. [Obs.] "Shall we clap into it roundly, without . . . saying we are hoarse" Shak.
5. To talk noisily; to chatter loudly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Clap, n.
1. A loud noise made by sudden collision; a bang. "Give the door such a clap, as you go out, as will shake the whole room." Swift.
2. A burst of sound; a sudden explosion. Horrible claps of thunder. Hakewill.
3. A single, sudden act or motion; a stroke; a blow. What, fifty of my followers at a clap! Shak.
4. A striking of hands to express approbation. Unextrected claps or hisses. Addison.
5. Noisy talk; chatter. [Obs.] Chaucer.
6. (Falconry)
Definition: The nether part of the beak of a hawk. Clap dish. See Clack dish, under Clack, n.
– Clap net, a net for taking birds, made to close or clap together.
Clap, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. clapoir.]
Definition: Gonorrhea.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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