claque -
A group of people hired to attend a performance and to either applaud or boo.
claque -
A group of people who pre-arrange among themselves to express strong support for an idea, so as to give the false impression of a wider consensus.
Claque is, in its origin, a term which refers to an organized body of professional applauders in French theatres and opera houses. Members of a claque are called claqueurs. Hiring people to applaud dramatic performances was common in classical times.
