If thou becloud the sunshine of thine eye. Quarles. [ 1913 Webster ]

I do set my bow in the cloud. Gen. ix. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A classification of clouds according to their chief forms was first proposed by the meteorologist Howard, and this is still substantially employed. The following varieties and subvarieties are recognized: (a) Cirrus. This is the most elevated of all the forms of clouds; is thin, long-drawn, sometimes looking like carded wool or hair, sometimes like a brush or room, sometimes in curl-like or fleecelike patches. It is the cat's-tail of the sailor, and the mare's-tail of the landsman. (b) Cumulus. This form appears in large masses of a hemispherical form, or nearly so, above, but flat below, one often piled above another, forming great clouds, common in the summer, and presenting the appearance of gigantic mountains crowned with snow. It often affords rain and thunder gusts. (c) Stratus. This form appears in layers or bands extending horizontally. (d) Nimbus. This form is characterized by its uniform gray tint and ragged edges; it covers the sky in seasons of continued rain, as in easterly storms, and is the proper rain cloud. The name is sometimes used to denote a raining cumulus, or cumulostratus. (e) Cirro-cumulus. This form consists, like the cirrus, of thin, broken, fleecelice clouds, but the parts are more or less rounded and regulary grouped. It is popularly called mackerel sky. (f) Cirro-stratus. In this form the patches of cirrus coalesce in long strata, between cirrus and stratus. (g) Cumulo-stratus. A form between cumulus and stratus, often assuming at the horizon a black or bluish tint. -- Fog, cloud, motionless, or nearly so, lying near or in contact with the earth's surface. -- Storm scud, cloud lying quite low, without form, and driven rapidly with the wind. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A mass or volume of smoke, or flying dust, resembling vapor. “A thick cloud of incense.” Ezek. viii. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A dark vein or spot on a lighter material, as in marble; hence, a blemish or defect; as, a cloud upon one's reputation; a cloud on a title. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That which has a dark, lowering, or threatening aspect; that which temporarily overshadows, obscures, or depresses; as, a cloud of sorrow; a cloud of war; a cloud upon the intellect. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A great crowd or multitude; a vast collection. “So great a cloud of witnesses.” Heb. xii. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A large, loosely-knitted scarf, worn by women about the head. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cloud on a (or the)
title (Law), a defect of title, usually superficial and capable of removal by release, decision in equity, or legislation. --
To be under a cloud, to be under suspicion or in disgrace; to be in disfavor. --
In the clouds, in the realm of facy and imagination; beyond reason; visionary. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To darken or obscure, as if by hiding or enveloping with a cloud; hence, to render gloomy or sullen. [ 1913 Webster ]

One day too late, I fear me, noble lord,
Hath clouded all thy happy days on earth. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be not disheartened, then, nor cloud those looks. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nothing clouds men's minds and impairs their honesty like prejudice. M. Arnold. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To blacken; to sully; to stain; to tarnish; to damage; -- esp. used of reputation or character. [ 1913 Webster ]

I would not be a stander-by to hear
My sovereign mistress clouded so, without
My present vengeance taken. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To mark with, or darken in, veins or sports; to variegate with colors; as, to cloud yarn. [ 1913 Webster ]

And the nice conduct of a clouded cane. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Worthies, away! The scene begins to cloud. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A scudding cloudage of shapes. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

So vanished my cloud-built palace. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A diversity of colors in yarn, recurring at regular intervals. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

A cloudless winter sky. Bankroft.

-- Cloud"less*ly, adv. -- Cloud"less*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

Eve's first star through fleecy cloudlet peeping. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Consisting of a cloud or clouds. [ 1913 Webster ]

As Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended. Ex. xxxiii. 9 [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Indicating gloom, anxiety, sullenness, or ill-nature; not open or cheerful. “A cloudy countenance.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Confused; indistinct; obscure; dark. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cloudy and confused notions of things. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Lacking clearness, brightness, or luster. “A cloudy diamond.” Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Marked with veins or sports of dark or various hues, as marble. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A sluice used in returning water to a channel after depositing its sediment on the flooded land. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

His garments, nought but many ragged clouts,
With thorns together pinned and patched was. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

A clout upon that head where late the diadem stood. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A swadding cloth. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A piece; a fragment. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The center of the butt at which archers shoot; -- probably once a piece of white cloth or a nail head. [ 1913 Webster ]

A'must shoot nearer or he'll ne'er hit the clout. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. An iron plate on an axletree or other wood to keep it from wearing; a washer. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A blow with the hand. [ Low ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Clout nail, a kind of wrought-iron nail heaving a large flat head; -- used for fastening clouts to axletrees, plowshares, etc., also for studding timber, and for various purposes. [ 1913 Webster ]

And old shoes and clouted upon their feet. Josh. ix. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

Paul, yea, and Peter, too, had more skill in . . . clouting an old tent than to teach lawyers. Latimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To join or patch clumsily. [ 1913 Webster ]

If fond Bavius vent his clouted song. P. Fletcher [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To quard with an iron plate, as an axletree. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To give a blow to; to strike. [ Low ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The . . . queen of Spain took off one of her chopines and clouted Olivarez about the noddle with it. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To stud with nails, as a timber, or a boot sole. [ 1913 Webster ]

Clouted cream, clotted cream, i. e., cream obtained by warming new milk. A. Philips. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ “Clouted brogues” in Shakespeare and “clouted shoon” in Milton have been understood by some to mean shoes armed with nails; by others, patched shoes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rough-hewn, cloutery verses. E. Phillips. [ 1913 Webster ]