# What are the origins of clapping to show appreciation?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-clapping-to-show-appreciation/156644>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 21, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-clapping-to-show-appreciation/156644 "2003-02-21T22:05:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-clapping-to-show-appreciation/156644/1 "2003-02-21T22:05:05Z")

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Well, what are they? Of course, clapping is universally used by people to show that they appreciate something. It can also be used to show approval, such as when the audience claps on a show such as Jerry Springer or Montel.

But what the origins of this? My guess is that clapping evolved as the most convenient method of making a sustained noise. The noise is easily heard by the person(s) being clapped, and from that they know how much people enjoyed whatever they were doing.

When did clapping first become common, and how did this happen?

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**Author:** ![jonfromdenver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/82dd89/32.png) [@jonfromdenver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonfromdenver)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-clapping-to-show-appreciation/156644/2 "2003-02-21T23:37:09Z")

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Check out [Take Our Word For It Issue 91](http://www.takeourword.com/Issue091.html) and scroll to about the middle of the huge page. That article says the earliest reference to clapping may have been by Chaucer.

I agree with your theory on clapping as a tool for sustained noise. Showing appreciation is best done by howling and hooting like a complete dumbass. 😃

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-clapping-to-show-appreciation/156644/3 "2003-02-21T23:37:25Z")

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There are a few threads on the boards that address the issue, but I don’t know if an answer was ever produced.

The OED cites it at least as far back as Shakespeare thusly

> [@](#):
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> 1613 SHAKES. Hen. VIII, Epil 4 All the best men are ours; for 'tis ill hap, If they hold, when their Ladies bid 'em clap. 1676 MARVELL Mr. Smirke 5 His little party…had posted themselves at every corner to feigne a more numerous applause: but clap’d out of time.

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**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-clapping-to-show-appreciation/156644/4 "2003-02-22T00:31:49Z")

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Thanks for the answers, very interesting.