- clamp (n.)
- device for fastening, c.1300, probably from clamb, originally past tense of climb, or from Middle Dutch clampe (Dutch klamp), from West Germanic *klamp- "clamp, cleat" (cf. Middle Low German klampe "clasp, hook," Old High German klampfer "clip, clamp," Old English clamm "fetter;" see clam (n.)).
- clamp (v.)
- 1670s, from clamp (n.). Related: Clamped; clamping.