plaudit (n.) Look up plaudit at Dictionary.com
1620s, short for plaudite "an actor's request for applause" (1560s), from Latin plaudite! "applaud!" second person plural imperative of plaudere "to clap, strike, beat; applaud, approve," of unknown origin (also in applaud, explode). This was the customary appeal for applause that Roman actors made at the end of a play. In English, the -e went silent then was dropped.