[f. CLAP v.1 + -ING1.]
1. The action of the verb CLAP, in various senses; striking, noise as of striking, applause, etc.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. IX. 167. Haue þei no children but cheste an choppyng [v.r. clappyng] hem bitwene.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 79. Clappynge, percussio. Ibid., Clappynge or clynkynge of a belle, tintillacio.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 653. With many great showtes and clapping of handes.
1720. Stow’s Surv. (ed. Strype, 1754), I. III. viii. 630/1. Clapping of dishes and ringing of bells.
1727. Swift, Gulliver, II. viii. 164. A noise … like the clapping of wings.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 56. The whistling and clapping of a tasteless crowd.
† 2. fig. Noisy talk, clamor, chatter. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 943. Ay ful of clappyng … A ful gret fool is he that on yow leevith.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 70. That aspine leafe [thy toung], suche spitefull clappyng haue bred.
1877. G. Long, trans. M. Aurelius (Bohn), 121. The praise which comes from the many is a clapping of tongues.
3. attrib., as clapping sound, noise, etc. Comb., as clapping-post, the post against which a gate closes (cf. CLAP v.1 3, 4) (obs. or dial.).
1792. Nat. Hist., in Ann. Reg., 385. It was … put … down for a clapping-post.
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 476. A clapping noise similar to that of a corn-mill.
1821. Clare, Vill. Minstr., I. 128.
| The riding-gate, sharp jerking round, | |
| Follow’d fast my heels again, | |
| While echo mock’d the clapping sound, | |
| And ‘clap, clap,’ sang the woods amain. |
1847–78. Halliwell, Clapping-post, the smaller of a pair of gate-posts, against which the gate closes. East.
