Where does “clap” come from?

Clap derives from Middle English clappen, from Old English clæppan, from Proto-Germanic klappōną, from Old Occitan clap, from Medieval Latin claperius.

clap (English): The act of striking the palms of the hands, or...

Definitions

  1. The act of striking the palms of the hands, or...

Ancestry of “clap”, step by step

clap traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old French clapoir

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchclapoirbubo, inflammation from infection
2Old Frenchclapierbrothel
3Old Occitanclapierrabbit hutch
4Old Occitanclapheap of stones
5Medieval Latinclaperius—

via Middle English clappen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishclappenTo make a loud noise, especially by talking or...
2Old Englishclæppanto throb
3Proto-GermanicklappōnąTo strike or pound; To make loud noises,...

Words derived from “clap”

Every word from Medieval Latin claperius →