1. [n]  a short nail with a flat head; used to attach sheet metal to wood
2. [n]  a target used in archery
3. [v]  strike hard, esp. with the fist; "He clouted his attacker"

CLOUT is a 5 letter word that starts with C.

1. \Clout\, n. [AS. cl[=u]t a little cloth, piece of metal;
   cf. Sw. klut, Icel. kl[=u]tr a kerchief, or W. clwt a clout,
   Gael. clud.]
   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.] --Chaucer.
   
   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.
   
   

2. \Clout\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Clouted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Clouting}.] [OE. clutien. clouten, to patch. See {Clout},
   n.]
   1. To cover with cloth, leather, or other material; to
      bandage; patch, or mend, with a clout.
   
            And old shoes and clouted upon their feet. --Josh.
                                                  ix. 5.
   
            Paul, yea, and Peter, too, had more skill in . . .
            clouting an old tent than to teach lawyers.
                                                  --Latimer.
   
   2. To join or patch clumsily.
   
            If fond Bavius vent his clouted song. --P. Fletcher
   
   3. To quard with an iron plate, as an axletree.
   
   4. To give a blow to; to strike. [Low]
   
            The . . . queen of Spain took off one of her
            chopines and clouted Olivarez about the noddle with
            it.                                   --Howell.
   
   5. To stud with nails, as a timber, or a boot sole.
   
   {Clouted cream}, clotted cream, i. e., cream obtained by
      warming new milk. --A. Philips.
   
   Note: ``Clouted brogues'' in Shakespeare and ``clouted
         shoon'' in Milton have been understood by some to mean
         shoes armed with nails; by others, patched shoes.