Also 5 cloutere, clutere, clowtere, 5–8 clowter. [f. CLOUT v. + -ER.]

1

  One who clouts, mends or patches (lit. and fig.); a cobbler, or patcher; a botcher.

2

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 84. Clowter, or cobelere.

3

1565.  Jewel, Def. Apol. (1611), 171. A Clowter of Skinnes, or A Cobler.

4

1581.  J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 415. What will this clouter patch together out of this?

5

1615.  Sir E. Hoby, Curry-Combe for a Coxe-Combe, i. 11. He kissed like a Clowter.

6

1708.  Motteux, Rabelais (1737), V. 214. Clowters, and Botchers of old trumpery Stuff.

7

  Hence † Clouter-like a. = CLOUTERLY.

8

a. 1624.  Bp. M. Smith, Serm. (1632), 145. The verses are but clouter-like, (vnworthy such an Vniversity as Padway).

9