Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US/Aus.) to steal; to rob; thus clouted adj., stolen.

1914		Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal Sl. 24: clout [...] In currency amongst the plunderbund. To purloin any kind of valuables in any manner.
1928		R.J. Tasker Grimhaven 32: What I’m going to do is [...] clout a five-ton Mack truck.
1933		Ersine Und. and Prison Sl.
1938		Press (Canterbury) 2 Apr. 18: ‘To clout,’ ‘to pole,’ ‘to fend off’ are to steal.
1948		R.L. Bellem ‘Death Ends the Scene’ Hollywood Detective May 🌐 You mean maybe somebody’s in there clouting the joint?”.
1949		Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn) 53: clouting Stealing from stores and houses at night.
1953		T. Runyon In For Life 9: If the reader is too curious he can run out and clout himself a car and get himself some time.
1962		Ragen & Finston World’s Toughest Prison 794: clout – To steal.
1965		J. O’Grady Aussie Eng. (1966) 28: You shouldn’t ‘clout on’ anything that doesn’t belong to you. That’s stealing.
1971		T. Thackrey Thief 294: I picked up the clouted heap The Man had arranged.
1973		G.V. Higgins Digger’s Game (1981) 28: I clouted a car when I was a kid.
1986		J. Ellroy Suicide Hill 170: [H]e had paid for most of his Stanford tuition by clouting Chevys.
2004		J. Ellroy ‘Hollywood Fuck Pad’ in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 228: Some shitbird clouted the Hollywood Federal [...] four days ago.
2009		(con. 1960s) J. Ellroy Blood’s a Rover 25: They’re clouting steak houses, they’re robbing cash receipts.

2. (US Und.) to arrest.

1929		E. Booth Stealing Through Life 193: Say! why didn’t you send word to Dan or me after you was clouted in that house prowl?
1935		A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks.

3. (Aus.) to cheat by palming a card or cards.

1953

Baker Aus. Speaks.

4. to search.

1958

E. Gilbert Vice Trap 80: ‘They must be clouting Magallanes’ Dodge.’ ‘They’ll turn a spike outfit in it.’.