Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Clamp

Clamp

(klămp)
,
Noun.
[Cf. LG. & D.
klamp
, Dan.
klampe
, also D.
klampen
to fasten, clasp. Cf.
Clamber
,
Cramp
.]
1.
Something rigid that holds fast or binds things together; a piece of wood or metal, used to hold two or more pieces together.
2.
(a)
An instrument with a screw or screws by which work is held in its place or two parts are temporarily held together.
(b)
(Joinery)
A piece of wood placed across another, or inserted into another, to bind or strengthen.
3.
One of a pair of movable pieces of lead, or other soft material, to cover the jaws of a vise and enable it to grasp without bruising.
4.
(Shipbuilding)
A thick plank on the inner part of a ship’s side, used to sustain the ends of beams.
5.
A mass of bricks heaped up to be burned; or of ore for roasting, or of coal for coking.
6.
A mollusk. See
Clam
.
[Obs.]
Clamp nails
,
nails used to fasten on clamps in ships.

Clamp

(klămp)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Clamped
(klămt; 215)
p. pr. & vb. n.
Clamping
.]
1.
To fasten with a clamp or clamps; to apply a clamp to; to place in a clamp.
2.
To cover, as vegetables, with earth.
[Eng.]

Clamp

,
Noun.
[Prob. an imitative word. Cf.
Clank
.]
A heavy footstep; a tramp.

Clamp

,
Verb.
I.
To tread heavily or clumsily; to clump.
The policeman with
clamping
feet.
Thackeray.

Webster 1828 Edition


Clamp

CLAMP

, n.
1.
In general, something that fastens or binds; a piece of timber or of iron, used to fasten work together; or a particular manner of uniting work by letting boards into each other.
2.
In ship-building, a thick plank on the inner part of a ships side, used to sustain the ends of the beams.
3.
A smooth crooked plate of iron forelocked on the trunnions of a cannon to keep it fast to the carriage. Clamps are also used to strengthen masts, and to fasten the masts and bowsprits of small vessels and of boats.
4.
A pile of bricks laid up for burning, in which the end of one brick is laid over another, and a space is left between the bricks for the fire to ascend.
Clamp-irons, irons used at the ends of fires to keep the fuel from falling.
Clamp-nails, nails used to fasten on clamps in ships.

CLAMP

, v.t.
1.
To fasten with clamps.
2.
In joinery, to fit a piece of board with the grain, to the end of another piece of board across the grain; as, to clamp a table to prevent its warping.