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clobber

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clobber¹

  • /ˈklɒb.ə(ɹ)/ UK
  • /ˈklɑb.ɚ/ US

Rhymes with -ɒbə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

British slang from 1941; possibly onomatopoeic of the sound of detonated bombs in the distance.

verb clobbers · clobbering · clobbered

  1. slang, transitive To hit or bash severely; to seriously harm or damage. So the temptation to clobber was always there, and it was sometimes more difficult not to strike than it would have been to strike, and the consequences be damned.

    Similar: slog, slug

  2. slang, transitive To overwrite (data) or override (an assignment of a value), often unintentionally or unexpectedly. It is therefore clear that the system itself must be truly "clobber proof"; that is, no user may be capable of changing anyone else's program or tying up the system in any way that would disrupt normal service to other users.

noun

  1. slang, uncountable A beating. Near-synonyms: clobbering, clubbing, thumping

    Similar: clobbering, clubbing, thumping

  2. uncountable A bash on say the head, typically with a tool or object rather than with fists.

clobber²

  • /ˈklɒb.ə(ɹ)/ UK
  • /ˈklɑb.ɚ/ US

Rhymes with -ɒbə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

British slang from 19th century of unknown origin, perhaps from Yiddish.

noun

  1. Australia, UK, slang, uncountable Clothing; clothes. W'y, they call a man a robber if 'e stuffs 'is marchin' clobber / With the— / (Chorus) Loo! loo! Lulu! lulu! Loo! loo! Loot! loot! loot!
  2. UK, slang, uncountable Equipment.

clobber³

  • /ˈklɒb.ə(ɹ)/ UK
  • /ˈklɑb.ɚ/ US

Rhymes with -ɒbə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

Of obscure origin, but compare clabber (“mud, wet clay”).

noun

  1. uncountable A paste used by shoemakers to hide the cracks in leather.

Translations

Every language

verb to hit or bash severely

Españolzurrar, arruinar, aporrear, apalear
Portuguêsarrebentar
Françaistabassage
Deutschdreschen, durchhauen
Русскийбить bitʹ, избива́ть izbivátʹ

verb to overwrite or override, often unintentionally

Españolsobrellevar
Françaisécraser
Deutschüberschreiben
Русскийперезапи́сывать perezapísyvatʹ, перезаписа́ть perezapisátʹ

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Cite this
MLA

"clobber." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/clobber. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

clobber. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/clobber

Chicago

"clobber." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/clobber.

BibTeX
@misc{clobber_2026,
  title = {clobber},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/clobber},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}