clapt: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low Frequency / Archaic / DialectalArchaic, dialectal, poetic. Not used in modern standard English; historical/period texts only.
Quick answer
What does “clapt” mean?
An archaic or dialectal past tense and past participle form of the verb 'clap', meaning to strike the palms together, put or place quickly, or to applaud.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An archaic or dialectal past tense and past participle form of the verb 'clap', meaning to strike the palms together, put or place quickly, or to applaud.
Occasionally appears as an adjective meaning 'struck', 'applauded', or 'made/constructed hastily or shoddily' in archaic or specialized (e.g., nautical) contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally archaic/dialectal in both varieties. Some dialectal persistence in regional UK dialects (e.g., in Northern England, Scotland). In US English, it is purely archaic/obsolete.
Connotations
In UK regional dialects, it may sound traditional or rustic. In all modern contexts, it sounds deliberately old-fashioned.
Frequency
Vanishingly rare in both. More likely encountered in historical literature or regional folk songs in the UK than in the US.
Grammar
How to Use “clapt” in a Sentence
[Subject] clapt [Object] ([on/upon/together])Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clapt” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The audience clapt their hands in time to the folk song.
- He clapt his hat on his head and marched out.
American English
- She clapt the book shut in frustration.
- They clapt him on the shoulder in congratulation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or literary analysis of older texts.
Everyday
Not used in modern standard English.
Technical
Possibly in historical reenactment or niche discussions of archaic shipbuilding (e.g., 'clapt-together vessel').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clapt”
- Using 'clapt' in modern writing instead of 'clapped'.
- Pronouncing it as /kleɪpt/ (like 'aped').
- Assuming it has a current, active meaning.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is an archaic or dialectal past tense/past participle of 'clap'. It is not used in contemporary standard English.
No, using 'clapt' in modern writing or speech would be considered an error or a deliberate, noticeable archaism. Always use 'clapped'.
In works of Early Modern English (Shakespeare, the King James Bible), older poetry, ballads, or records of certain UK regional dialects.
Yes, in archaic or specialized use, it can describe something that has been struck, applauded, or (more commonly) something hastily and poorly constructed, as in 'a clapt-together shack'.
An archaic or dialectal past tense and past participle form of the verb 'clap', meaning to strike the palms together, put or place quickly, or to applaud.
Clapt is usually archaic, dialectal, poetic. not used in modern standard english; historical/period texts only. in register.
Clapt: in British English it is pronounced /klæpt/, and in American English it is pronounced /klæpt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “clapt in irons (archaic, to be put in chains)”
- “clapt eyes on (archaic/dialectal for 'saw')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TRAP that CLAPs shut quickly - it's a quick, sharp, old-fashioned action.
Conceptual Metaphor
APPLAUSE IS A PHYSICAL IMPACT; HASTY CONSTRUCTION IS IMPACT (things are 'clapt together').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'clapt' be MOST appropriate?