I.a clapping sound, the noise that arises from the beating or striking together of two bodies.
I. In gen. (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): it eques et plausu cava concutit ungula terram, Enn. ap. Macr. S. 6, 1 (Ann. v. 419 Vahl.),—Of cocks: plausu premunt alas, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 2, 26, 57 (Trag. v. 251 Vahl.).—Of doves: “plausumque exterrita pennis Dat tecto ingentem,” Verg. A. 5, 215: “laterum,” Plin. 10, 21, 24, § 46: “aeris,” id. 11, 20, 22, § 68: “palma cum palmā collata plausum facit,” Sen. Q. N. 2, 28, 1.—
II. In partic., a clapping of hands in token of approbation, applause (class. and very freq.): “si voletis plausum fabulae huic clarum dare,” Plaut. Rud. 5, 3, 65; cf. v. 67 and plaudo, II. B.; Cic. Sest. 58, 123: “a plebe plausu maximo est mihi gratulatio significata,” id. Att. 4, 1, 5: “tantis plausibus, tantā approbatione infimorum,” id. ib. 14, 16, 2: “a cuncto consessu plausum multiplex datus,” id. Sen. 18, 64: “alicui plausus impertire,” id. Att. 2, 18, 1: “plausus quaerere in aliquā re,” id. ib. 8, 9, 3; id. Clu. 47: “captare,” id. Tusc. 2, 26, 64: petere. Quint. 4, 1, 77.
