Klappe

From the verb klappen (“to flap, flip, fold”) and from Middle Low German klappe, kleppe and with influence of French clapet in technical meanings near “valve”.

• IPA^(key): /ˈklapə/

• Audio (Austria)

  (file)

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -apə

Klappe f (genitive Klappe, plural Klappen)

1. flap, every technical or natural implement that is bound in front of something or a body part of someone or a beast to obstruct leakage or immissions in either direction and is removed under preintended conditions.
   1. ellipsis of Schiffsklappe.
      • 1863 October 9, “[Quoting a letter of a Mr. Nadar from the 5th of October 1863]”, in Mährischer Correspondent, Brünn, page 5:

        Das Zerreißen der Schnur unserer Klappe in der Nacht nöthigte uns, die Anker auszuwerfen.

        (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   2. any technical piece of equipment bound in front of a beast to obstruct its movement or vision, as a muzzle or twitch or barnacle (tendentially a muzzle, while a twitch preferredly bears the form Kluppe or Knuppe)

      Synonym: Bremse

2. (derogatory) gob, mouth

   Synonyms: Mundwerk, Schnauze, Futterluke

   Halte die Klappe! ― Shut your gob!/Shut up!

3. (gay slang) cottage, tea room (public toilet or similar place used by men seeking sex with other men, for cottaging)
4. (obsolete) whip, scourge
   1. ellipsis of Fliegenklappe (“fly swatter”).
      • 1785, Karl Philipp Moritz, Anton Reiser, Frankfurt am Main: Insel Verlag, published 1979, pages 28–29:

        Wenn er Fliegen mit der Klappe totschlug, so tat er dieses mit einer Art von Feierlichkeit, indem er einer jeden mit einem Stücke Messing, das er in der Hand hatte, vorher die Totenglocke läutete.

        (please add an English translation of this quotation)

5. (obsolete) buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata); also Ziegenklappe and both as a plurale tantum

   Synonyms: Zottenblume, Kleeblätterige Zottenblume, Dreiblätterige Zottenblume, Zotenblume, Kleeblätterige Zotenblume, Dreiblätterige Zotenblume, Fieberklee, Bitterklee, Biberklee, Bockbohne, Magenklee, Lungenklee, Scharbocksklee, Wasserklee, Sumpfklee, Hasenohr, Wiesenmangold, Dreikohl, Wasserdreiblatt, Kreuzwurz

6. (Austria, telecommunications, dated) extension (a numerical code used to specify a specific telephone in a telecommunication network)

   Synonyms: Durchwahl, Nebenstelle

• → Turkish: klapa

• “Klappe” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Klappe” in Duden online
• “Klappe” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.
• “Klappe” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon