O.E. clyccan "bring together, bend (the fingers), clench," infl. in meaning by M.E. cloke "a claw." Automotive engine part (n.) is 1814, with the "seizing" sense extended to "coupling for bringing working parts together." Originally of mill-works, first used of motor vehicles 1899.
the act of grasping; "he released his clasp on my arm"; "he has a strong grip for an old man"; "she kept a firm hold on the railing" [syn: clasp]
2.
a tense critical situation; "he is a good man in the clutch"
3.
a number of birds hatched at the same time
4.
a collection of things or persons to be handled together [syn: batch]
5.
a woman's strapless purse that is carried in the hand [syn: clutch bag]
6.
a pedal or lever that engages or disengages a rotating shaft and a driving mechanism; "he smoothely released the clutch with one foot and stepped on the gas with the other"
7.
a coupling that connects or disconnects driving and driven parts of a driving mechanism; "this year's model has an improved clutch"
verb
1.
take hold of; grab; "The sales clerk quickly seized the money on the counter"; "She clutched her purse"; "The mother seized her child by the arm"; "Birds of prey often seize small mammals" [syn: seize]
2.
hold firmly, usually with one's hands; "She clutched my arm when she got scared" [syn: cling to]
3.
affect; "Fear seized the prisoners"; "The patient was seized with unbearable pains"; "He was seized with a dreadful disease" [syn: seize]
control or power Example: He fell into the clutches of the enemy.
Arabic:
(تَحْتَ) سيطرة ، (في) مَخالِب الأعْداء
Chinese (Simplified):
控制
Chinese (Traditional):
控制
Czech:
spár
Danish:
klo; i kløerne på
Dutch:
greep
Estonian:
küüsi, küüsis
Finnish:
kynnet
French:
(sous les) griffes
German:
die Klauen (pl.)
Greek:
έλεγχος, ισχύς
Hungarian:
szorítás
Icelandic:
(í) greipar
Indonesian:
cengkeraman
Italian:
grinfie*
Japanese:
手中
Korean:
지배(력)
Latvian:
tvēriens; grābiens
Lithuanian:
gniaužtai
Norwegian:
hardt grep, klo, i klørne på
Polish:
szpon(y)
Portuguese (Brazil):
domínio
Portuguese (Portugal):
garras
Romanian:
(în) gheare(le)
Russian:
власть, тиски
Slovak:
pazúr
Slovenian:
kremplji
Spanish:
dominio
Swedish:
klor
Turkish:
kontrol eden kuvvet (pençe)
clutch2[klatʃ]noun
(the pedal operating) a device by means of which two moving parts of an engine may be connected or disconnected Example: He released the clutch and the car started to move.
Bay"o*net\, n. [F. bayonnette, ba["i]onnette; -- so called, it is said, because the first bayonets were made at Bayonne.]1. (Mil.) A pointed instrument of the dagger kind fitted on the muzzle of a musket or rifle, so as to give the soldier increased means of offense and defense. Note: Originally, the bayonet was made with a handle, which required to be fitted into the bore of the musket after the soldier had fired. 2. (Mach.) A pin which plays in and out of holes made to receive it, and which thus serves to engage or disengage parts of the machinery. Bayonet clutch. See Clutch. Bayonet joint, a form of coupling similar to that by which a bayonet is fixed on the barrel of a musket. --Knight.
Clutch\ (kl[u^]ch; 224), n. [OE. cloche, cloke, claw, Scot. clook, cleuck, also OE. cleche claw, clechen, cleken, to seize; cf. AS. gel[ae]ccan (where ge- is a prefix) to seize. Cf. Latch a catch.]1. A gripe or clinching with, or as with, the fingers or claws; seizure; grasp. "The clutch of poverty." --Cowper. An expiring clutch at popularity. --Carlyle. But Age, with his stealing steps, Hath clawed me in his clutch. --Shak. 2. pl. The hands, claws, or talons, in the act of grasping firmly; -- often figuratively, for power, rapacity, or cruelty; as, to fall into the clutches of an adversary. I must have . . . little care of myself, if I ever more come near the clutches of such a giant. --Bp. Stillingfleet. 3. (Mach.) A device which is used for coupling shafting, etc., so as to transmit motion, and which may be disengaged at pleasure. 4. Any device for gripping an object, as at the end of a chain or tackle. 5. (Zo["o]l.) The nest complement of eggs of a bird. Bayonet clutch (Mach.), a clutch in which connection is made by means of bayonets attached to arms sliding on a feathered shaft. The bayonets slide through holes in a crosshead fastened on the shaft.
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