[f. CLAMP sb.1, corresp. to Du. klampen, dial. Ger. klampfen and klampfern, beside klammen, klammern.]
1. trans. To make fast with a clamp or clamps.
1677–96. Moxon, Mech. Exerc. (1703), 110.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 100/1. The ends of Tables are commonly clampt to preserve them from warping.
1790. Roy, Trigon. Operat., in Phil. Trans., LXXX. 157. The circle being clamped, hang the axis level on the pivots or ansæ of the telescope.
1854. J. Hogg, Microsc., I. ii. (1867), 43. By sliding the one on the other and clamping them together when adjusted.
1876. Foster, Phys., I. iv. (1879), 127. The carotid … is … clamped in two places and divided between the clamps.
1879. Browning, Ivàn Ivànovitch, 6. He cleaves, clamps, dovetails in.
fig. 1862. Lytton, Str. Story, I. 135. I clamped and soldered dogma to dogma in the links of my tinkered logic.
1876. Lowell, Among my Bks., Ser. II. 3. The haggard cheeks, the lips clamped together in unfaltering resolve.
2. (Sc.) ‘To patch, to make up or mend in a clumsy manner’ (Jam.); = CLAMPER v.1
a. 1800. Symmye & his Bruder, in Sibbald, Sc. Poet., I. 360 (Jam.). Syne clampit up Sanct Peter’s keiss Bot of ane auld reid gartane.
