meaning of 'clout'.

My understanding of the expression 'ne'er cast a clout til May is out' was regarding putting out bedding plants. Casting a clout was turning or digging the soil.
'Clout around the ear' meaning a smack or punch is also familiar to me.

So 'clout ' usually means a physical blow. Thanks to all.
I've been trying to find the link to 'vagina' but can't find it.
I love the vagaries of our language.

ps Mossfar - turning the soil is a really original one.

Clout is a similar sound to clod, so that makes sense.

Fennel
According to the Urban Dictionary it refers to knickers, especially the big Bridget Jones type.

The wind at North and East
Was never good for man nor beast,
So never think to cast a clout
Until the month of May be out.

F. K. Robinson's Whitby Glossary (1855).

I was brought up in Norfolk with two meanings for clout - one is to hit something as a clip around the ear or bang in a nail (with a clout hammer) and the other is a babies nappy or a sanitary pad.

I believe in medieval times it was also a name for thick undergarments hence the not casting a clout before may be out meaning taking off the extra winter undies. And I understand its the may flower which is referred to.

I did know about the use of clout to mean vagina.
I thought it was an American thing?

a clout is a cloth surely? Probably Germanic or Scandinavian origin.
Danish is clud

Ditto Gillybob’s post . I’m in the south but my dad was a Geordie .

The etymology of 'clout' can be found here.

Thank you grannyactivist for the etymology explanation. For many years I've held ground with remembering my mums use of clouts and being told over the years that I'm wrong. it's such a relief to know I've not been imagining the reality from my childhood....

I’m a southerner so pronounce it clowt but the 3 meanings are the same. Also the soil/earth/mud thing was usually ‘clod’. As in “clodhopping “. However never heard of clout meaning vagina!!

I'm sure I learned about the last meaning of the word after my internet ramblings took me onto this group.

Apparently the name is sort of ironic.
Surely I didn't make that lot up in my own head, did I?

youtu.be/5fgA_yNCeq4

Aye, in Yorkshire as well.

'I'll give thee a clout round t'ears if tha doan't behave thissen.'

And 'This babby needs his breech clouts changing, he's wet through.'

In my old Funk & Wagnalls, published in 1930, there are 10 other definitions.

We knitted month cloths of cotton yarn - they were far more comfortable than those horrible paper sanitary towels and as they had holes you put a tape through at either end they stayed put - absolutely necessary for professional dancers.

Clouts are also a kind of nail.

A clout is also a nail used to pin down roofing felt .

Un clou is a nail in French and clouté means studded or hobnailed.

According to my dictionary, it is also the name for the centre of a target...and a patch, as used by a cobbler.

Who would have believed one word could have so many meanings.

The monthly period used to be called 'the rags', because of the need to wear a bundle of rags. Personally, I can imagine a piece of muslin stuffed with bits of cloth, would be quite comfortable to wear. You would need to make the back waterproof in some way.

In Derbyshire it means to hit and also to carry some power "She had a lot clout". Both used a lot.

Washable sanitary wear is still around & gaining popularity for economic & environmental reasons.

Mooncups are very popular now too!

Boheminan there were sanitary pads in the 1950’s ( and maybe earlier) as we children found a pack in our mother’s wardrobe and delightedly wore one each as a beard ( a loop over each ear) and pretended to be Father Christmas.That was around 1955.

....when mother saw us we got a clout round the head.