I just used the clapping smiley in an IM, and that made me wonder something: how did the act of clapping hands come to be called applauding? "CLAP", I can see, because it sounds like that. But why 'applaud'? (FTR--I know the word 'laud', but lauding can be oral or written. How'd the 'app-' get onto the beginning, for clapping?)