ˈhandclap
[clap n.1]
a. A clap of the hands; the brief space of time which this takes, an instant.
| 1822 Hogg Perils of Man III. 205 (Jam.) It is God speed, or spulyie wi' thee in three handclaps. 1864 Burton Caerngorm Mountains 77 In a hand-clap, in it swept..dashing everything before it. 1962 A. Nisbett Technique Sound Studio ii. 33 You can use a hand-clap to give a rough guide to the reverberation. |
b. Applause.
| 1907 Daily Chron. 1 Oct. 4/5 The curtain goes up..to some feeble handclaps from invited guests. 1908 Westm. Gaz. 13 Mar. 7/3 The chairman of the company.., with the directors, entered the room, a hand-clap greeting them. |
c. slow handclap: slow applause expressing disapproval. Also (with hyphen) as vb. Hence slow hand-clapping vbl. n.
| 1953 Britannica Bk. of Year 638/2 The freedom of usage seen in the formation of compounds also allows frequent changes in function, so that verbs, for example, may be formed from nouns. Examples are: to slow-handclap. 1955 Miller & Whitington Cricket Typhoon 215 Indeed, they jeered and slow-handclapped Cowdrey. 1958 F. C. Avis Boxing Ref. Dict. 103 Slow handclap, ironic applause expressed by means of a very slow clapping of the hands. 1959 News Chron. 13 July 4/6 Some cynical dons..were giving the slow hand-clap to the end of the procession. 1961 Guardian 3 Apr. 1/7 All the slow hand⁓clapping and hysterical cheering. 1966 Listener 20 Jan. 88/2 This destructive criticism was nothing compared with the..slow-handclaps and final booing. |