Clout n.
 1. A cloth; a piece of cloth or leather; a patch; a rag.
 His garments, nought but many ragged clouts,
 With thorns together pinned and patched was.   --Spenser.
    A clout upon that head where late the diadem stood.   --Shak.
 2. A swadding cloth.
 3. A piece; a fragment. [Obs.]
 4. The center of the butt at which archers shoot; -- probably once a piece of white cloth or a nail head.
    A'must shoot nearer or he'll ne'er hit the clout.   --Shak.
 5. An iron plate on an axletree or other wood to keep it from wearing; a washer.
 6. A blow with the hand. [Low]
 Clout nail, a kind of wrought-iron nail heaving a large flat head; -- used for fastening clouts to axletrees, plowshares, etc., also for studding timber, and for various purposes.


 clout nail
      n : a short nail with a flat head; used to attach sheet metal to
          wood [syn: clout]