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Added 9 October 2026

clamp

/ˈklæmp/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about clamp at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A device (generally used by carpenters) that holds things firmly together.

verb

Fasten or fix with a clamp.
clamp the chair together until the glue has hardened
Impose or inflict forcefully.
The military government clamped a curfew onto the capital

Origin

From Middle Dutch clamp, klampe (“a clamp, hook”), from Proto-Germanic *klampō (“clamp, clasp, cramp”), related to Proto-West Germanic *klammjan. Cognate with Middle Low German klampe (“hook, clasp”), German Klampfe, Klampe (“clamp, cleat”), Norwegian klamp (“clamp”), Alemannic German Chlempi.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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