Clack

Origin

From Middle English clacken, clakken, claken, from Old English *clacian ("to slap, clap, clack"; suggested by clacu ("din; harm, injury")), from Proto-Germanic *klakōną ("to clap, chirp"), from Proto-Indo-European *glag- ("to make a noise, clap, twitter"), from Proto-Indo-European *gal- ("to roop, scream, shout"). Cognate with Scots clake, claik ("to utter cries", also "to bedaub, sully with a sticky substance"), Dutch klakken ("to clack, crack"), Low German klakken ("to slap on, daub"), Norwegian klakke ("to clack, strike, knock"), Icelandic klaka ("to twitter, chatter, wrangle, dispute").

Full definition of clack

Noun

1. an abrupt, sharp sound, especially one made by two hard objects colliding repetitively; a clatter; in sound, midway between a click and a clunk
2. Anything that causes a clacking noise, such as the clapper of a mill, or a clack valve.
3. chatter; prattle
• SouthWhose chief intent is to vaunt his spiritual clack.

Derived terms

• clack box
• clack dish
• clack door
• clack valve

Verb

1. (intransitive) To make a sudden, sharp noise, or succession of noises; to click.
• ThackerayWe heard Mr. Hodson's whip clacking on the shoulders of the poor little wretches.
2. (transitive) To cause to make a sudden, sharp noise, or succession of noises; to click.
3. To chatter or babble; to utter rapidly without consideration.
4. (UK) To cut the sheep's mark off (wool), to make the wool weigh less and thus yield less duty.