clamp

clamp · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*klampō“clamp, clasp, cramp”
2. Middle Dutch · derived fromclamp
3. English todayclamp

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.

clamp · noun, verb²

Imitative.

Clamp · proper noun³

From clamp, a metonymic occupational surname for someone who worked with this tool.