3. plausus (plōsus, Macr. S. 6, 1), ūs (a later collat. form, plausus, i, Cod. Th. 15, 9, 2), m. [plaudo], 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.