clap up

verb

to imprison

“Parents should clap up their children's wedding ceremonies as quickly as possible.”

Similar
clap togetherslap together
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Meanings

verbclap up (third-person singular simple present claps up, present participle clapping up, simple past and past participle clapped up)

present singular third person claps up · participle present clapping up · participle past clapped up · past clapped up

  1. to imprison

    orders were sent down for clapping up three of the chief remonstrators

    a. 1716 (date written), [Gilbert] Burnet, edited by [Gilbert Burnet Jr.], Bishop Burnet’s History of His Own Time. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] Thomas Ward […], published 1724, →OCLC
    1 more example

    precious Master Lyndwode hath his deserts at last; he's clapped up safe in the Gate-house

    1852, Hannah Lawrence, The Treasure-seeker's Daughter
  2. To complete a marriage ceremony.

    Parents should clap up their children's wedding ceremonies as quickly as possible.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbmake hastily and carelessly

Similar
clap togetherslap together
Broader
producemakecreate
Also see
bastilleclap togetherimprisonslap together

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

clap up. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clap%20up

MLA

“clap up.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clap%20up. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “clap up,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clap%20up.

Source: clap up on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.