'applause' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'applaudere' (past participle 'applausus'), where 'ad-' meant 'to/toward' and 'plaudere' meant 'to clap or strike'.

'applause' changed from Old French forms like 'aplaus'/'applaus' and through Middle English into the modern English word 'applause'.

Initially it referred to the action of clapping (from the verb root meaning 'to clap/strike'), and over time it came to mean specifically 'approval shown by clapping'.