clinchn.1
/klɪnʃ/ 1. A fastening in which the end of a nail is turned over and driven back into the substance through which it has passed, or in which the end of a bolt is beaten down and flattened upon a metal ring or washer put round it for the purpose; the clinched point of a nail; a clinched nail or bolt. Sometimes clench n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > nail > clinch-nail
clinch-nail1626
clinch1659
clincher1725
society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > bolt > types of
round bolt1582
ringbolt1599
pikebolt1622
rag bolt1625
set-bolt1627
clinch-bolta1642
eyebolt1649
clinch1659
screw-bolt1690
king bolt1740
wrain-bolt1750
wraining-bolt1769
toggle-bolt1794
strap-bolt1795
wring-bolt1815
through-bolt1821
truss-bolt1825
slip-stopper1831
stud bolt1838
anchor bolt1839
king rod1843
joint bolt1844
spade-bolt1850
shackle-bolt1852
roof bolt1853
set-stud1855
coach bolt1869
truss-rod1873
fox-bolt1874
garnish-bolt1874
fang-bolt1876
stud1878
U bolta1884
rock bolt1887
hook bolt1899
tower bolt1911
explosive bolt1948
society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > nail > parts of nails
rivet1392
nail head1440
shank1483
clench1598
clinch1725
dog-head1793
1659 T. Willsford Architectonice 25 Clinches may break, or the hooks, then are the shanks difficult to draw.
1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Shoeing of Horses Cut them off and clinch them, so as the clinches may be hidden in the Hoof.
1889 T. Scrutton in Letter The ring on which the clinch is formed is called a ‘burr’ or ‘rove’ in boat-building.
2. Nautical. ‘A method of fastening large ropes by a half-hitch, with the end stopped back to its own part by seizings’ (Adm. Smyth): that part of a rope which is clinched.
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society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > ropes or chains other than rigging or cable > [noun] > knot used by sailors > specific
bowline-knot1627
clinch1627
sheepshank1627
wall-knot1627
running bowline1710
running bowline knot1726
bend1769
clove-hitch1769
half-hitch1769
hitch1769
walnut1769
cat's paw1794
midshipman's hitch1794
reef knot1794
clench1804
French shroud knot1808
carrick bend1819
bowline1823
slippery hitch1832
wall1834
Matthew Walker1841
shroud-knot1860
stopper-knotc1860
marling hitch1867
wind-knot1870
Portuguese knot1871
rosette1875
chain knota1877
stopper-hitch1876
swab-hitch1883
monkey fist1917
Spanish bowline1968
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fastening > binding or tying > a bond, tie, or fastening > [noun] > knot > any knot used by sailors > other specific sailors' knots
bowline-knot1627
clinch1627
sheepshank1627
wall-knot1627
running bowline1710
running bowline knot1726
bend1769
clove-hitch1769
half-hitch1769
hitch1769
walnut1769
Magnus hitch1794
midshipman's hitch1794
clench1804
French shroud knot1808
carrick bend1819
bowline1823
slippery hitch1832
wall1834
cat's paw1840
Matthew Walker1841
shroud-knot1860
stopper-knotc1860
Portuguese knot1871
chain knota1877
stopper-hitch1876
swab-hitch1883
Spanish bowline1968
1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. v. 22 To saue the clinch of the cable from galling.
1778 J. Cook Jrnl. 16 July (1967) III. ii. 401 The Cable parted at the clinch.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. at Clinch ‘The cable runs out to the clinch,’ means, there is no more to veer.
3.
a. A thing which clutches, grips or fixes fast.
ΚΠ
1822 G. W. Manby Voy. Greenland (1823) 77 Whale louse..head..with four horns, two of which..serve as clinches, to fix the animals to the subject which they attack..they have six other clinches behind, with which they rivet themselves so fast to the whale, that they cannot be disengaged, but by cutting out the part.
b. The grip or hold (of plaster on a wall).
ΚΠ
1897 F. C. Moore How to build Home ii. 16 The lath should be furred out from the sheathing so as to secure a good ‘clinch’ or ‘key’ to the plaster.
4. A clinching or riveting together; the clinching of an argument, opinion, etc. Also clench n.
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the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > [noun] > conclusive proof or argument > use of
clinch1855
clinching1871
clenching1880
1855 R. Browning Master Hugues xi I believe in you, but that's not enough; Give my conviction a clinch!
1878 R. Browning Poets Croisic lxxi Welded lines with clinch Of ending word and word.
5.
a. U.S. A struggle or scuffle at close grips.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > [noun] > a fight > at close grips
close1598
grabble1650
clinch1849
clench1880
1849 C. Lanman Lett. Alleghany Mts. vi. 50 On reaching the bottom, he found the wolf alive, when a ‘clinch fight’ ensued, and the hunter's knife completely severed the heart of the animal.
1860 O. W. Holmes Professor at Breakfast-table iii. 64 No words, but..a clean, straight, hard hit..and the conflict terminated in one of those inglorious and inevitable Yankee clinches followed by a general melée.
1881 Family Herald 12 Mar. 304 A citizen who met with a mishap in a bar-room ‘clinch’.
b. spec. in Boxing. Grappling at close quarters or holding after an exchange of blows.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > [noun] > actions or positions
first bloodc1540
guard1601
feint1684
in holds1713
shifting1793
rally1805
muzzler1811
one-two1811
stop1812
southpaw1813
fibbing1814
leveller1814
mouther1814
ribber1814
stomacher1814
teller1814
in-fighting1816
muzzling1819
weaving1821
out-fighting1831
arm guard1832
countering1858
counter1861
clinching1863
prop1869
clinch1875
right and left1887
hook-hit1890
hook1898
cross1906
lead1906
jolt1908
swing1910
body shot1918
head shot1927
bolo punch1950
snap-back1950
counterpunch1957
counterpunching1957
Ali shuffle1966
rope-a-dope1975
1875 Amer. Cycl. XIV. 74/1 Unless there is a knock-down, the rounds usually terminate in a clinch.
1897 R. G. A. Allanson-Winn Boxing 329 Occasionally after a spell of in-fighting, but not in actually breaking away after a close or clinch, you may administer an excellent upper cut.
1901 R. Fitzsimmons Physical Culture 152 Corbett seemed to think clinches were his best time for a knock-out blow.
1923 L. R. Tosswill Boxing Up-to-date 58 The best thing to do is to fall into a clinch, dropping forward with your hands resting on your opponent's arms, while your ribs and stomach are protected by your elbows.
c. An embrace. colloquial (originally U.S.).
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the mind > emotion > love > embrace > [noun]
beclipping1340
complexion1493
clipa1586
brace1589
twine1602
fold1609
grasp1609
claspa1616
abrazoa1626
colla1627
cling1633
hug1659
folding1713
squeeze1790
cuddle1825
bear squeeze1845
bear hug1870
clinch1901
bosie1952
side hug1984
cwtch1992
bro hug2000
1901 ‘H. McHugh’ John Henry 25 A love clinch from Laura Jean Libbey's latest.
1929 W. Root in Bookman (N.Y.) Feb. 622/1 ‘Darling!’ and they go into a clinch.
1948 P. G. Wodehouse Spring Fever ii. 23 Nothing would have given Stanwood more pleasure than to have seen the young couple fading out on the clinch.
1959 J. Osborne World Paul Slickey i. iv. 38 The ‘King’ and ‘Queen’ go into a clinch.
6. A sharp repartee that twists or turns about the meaning of a word; a wordplay, a pun. Also clench n.
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the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > wit, wittiness > wit with words > [noun] > play on words, pun
allusion1550
nick1561
paronomasia1577
paronomasy1592
quiblin1605
quibblea1627
quiblet1627
clinch1629
quibbling1633
clink1634
clench1638
pun1644
conundrum1645
whim1652
pundigrion1673
jeu de mots1823
calembour1830
Tom Swifty1963
paronym1982
1629 J. Taylor Wit & Mirth (new ed.) (title page) Wit and mirth..made vp, and fashioned into Clinches, Bulls, Quirkes, etc. [Taylor's specimen of a clinch sig. C2, ‘A countryman being demanded how such a Riuer was called, that ranne through their Country: he answered that they neuer had need to call Riuer, for it alwayes came without calling’.]
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 61. ¶2 James the First..made very few Bishops or Privy-Counsellors that had not some time or other signalized themselves by a Clinch, or a Conundrum.
a1774 O. Goldsmith tr. P. Scarron Comic Romance (1775) I. viii. 49 Stunned with their puns and clinches. (Cf. [see carriwitchet n.]. )
7. (See quot. 1873.)
ΚΠ
1847 G. W. M. Reynolds Myst. London III. xxv. 71/2 Should you do this and get the clinch.
1873 Slang Dict. To get the clinch: to be locked up in jail.
Compounds
[In some cases this is the verb-stem.] † clinch-fist n. Obsolete a grasping fellow, a miser.
clinch-bolt n. a bolt that is clinched.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > bolt > types of
round bolt1582
ringbolt1599
pikebolt1622
rag bolt1625
set-bolt1627
clinch-bolta1642
eyebolt1649
clinch1659
screw-bolt1690
king bolt1740
wrain-bolt1750
wraining-bolt1769
toggle-bolt1794
strap-bolt1795
wring-bolt1815
through-bolt1821
truss-bolt1825
slip-stopper1831
stud bolt1838
anchor bolt1839
king rod1843
joint bolt1844
spade-bolt1850
shackle-bolt1852
roof bolt1853
set-stud1855
coach bolt1869
truss-rod1873
fox-bolt1874
garnish-bolt1874
fang-bolt1876
stud1878
U bolta1884
rock bolt1887
hook bolt1899
tower bolt1911
explosive bolt1948
a1642 W. Monson Naval Tracts (1704) iii. 345/2 Clinch-bolts are clinched with a Rivetting Hammer.
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Clench-bolt.
clinch-built adj. = clinker-built adj. at clinker n.3 Compounds 1.
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society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessel of specific construction or shape > [adjective] > built with planks overlapping
shingled1362
clincheda1547
clincher-built1769
clinker-built1769
plank-over-plank1769
clencher-built1850
clinch-built1867
lapstreaked1883
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Clinch-built, Clinker, or overlapping edges.
1889Clinch-built [see clinch plate n.]. clinch-hammer n. a hammer used for clinching.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > driving or beating tools > [noun] > hammer > other hammers
hand-hammereOE
maulc1225
plating hammer1543
bucker1653
axe-hammer1681
brick hammer1688
chipping hammer1783
tup1848
clinch-hammer1850
tack-hammer1865
bucking hammer1875
bloat1881
ringer1883
key hammer1884
peen hammer1885
straight pein1904
toffee hammer1958
1850 J. Greenwood Sailor's Sea-bk. 123 Clench-hammers should be made of hard steel, with one flat end for clenching.
clinch-joint n. the kind of joint used in clinch-work.
clinch-nail n. a nail of a kind adapted for clinching.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > nail > clinch-nail
clinch-nail1626
clinch1659
clincher1725
1626 J. Smith Accidence Young Sea-men 3 Roue and clinch-nailes.
1866 J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Agric. & Prices I. xx. 499 In the year 1291 we find clinch-nails at Pevensey.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Clench-nails..are much used in boat-building, being such as can be driven without splitting the boards, and drawn without breaking.
clinch plate n. a plate on the inside of clinch-work.
ΚΠ
1889 P. B. Du Chaillu Viking Age I. xii. 219 The boat is clinch-built; that is, the planks are held together by large iron bolts with round heads outside, and clinch plates on the inside, at a distance of 5 ½ inches from each other.
clinch-ring n. ‘a lap-ring or open ring, in which the parts on the sides of the opening overlap each other’ (E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech.).
clinch-work n. = clinker n.3 Compounds 1 work.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > constructing or working with wood > [noun] > wooden structures or wooden parts of > lap-jointed work
clincher-work1769
clinch-work1784
1784 London Chron. No. 4287 That no clinch-work vessel..should be built of a larger burthen than 60 tons.
1787 Act 27 Geo. III c. 32 in Coll. Statutes Admiralty, Navy, Shipping All vessels..whose Bottoms are Clench-Work.
1805 Naval Chron. 14 343 A new sort of Catamaran, built something like a Canoe, but clinch work.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
clinchn.2
Scottish.
A limp, as by a man lame of one leg.
ΚΠ
1790 A. Wilson Poems 201 Wi' yowlin' clinch aul' Jennock ran.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
clinchv.1
/klɪnʃ/ 1. transitive. To fix (a nail or bolt) securely, esp. by bending and beating back or flattening the point or end which has passed through a plank or plate of any kind; to make fast by such means. Also absol. Sometimes clench v.1
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society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > fastening > fasten [verb (transitive)] > with nails
nailOE
clencha1250
clinkc1440
rivetc1450
cloyc1460
clowa1522
to nail up1532
clinch1570
clint1575
inclavate1666
to nail down1669
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Liii/1 To Clinche, clingere, stringere.
1610 G. Markham Maister-peece ii. xcvi. 384 Clinshed as other nailes be.
1642 T. Fuller Holy State iii. x. 175 Knocking in the nail overnight, and clinching it the next morning.
1679 in F. Beaumont et al. Loves Cure (new ed.) ii. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher 50 Comedies & Trag. sig. Yv/1 Thou hast hit the nail on the head, and I will give thee six pots for't, though I ne'r clinch shooe again.
1700 Moxon's Mech. Exercises: Bricklayers-wks. 11 To clinch the Nails.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Clinch..is to batter or rivet a bolt's end upon a ring or piece of plate iron; or to turn back the point of a nail that it may hold fast.
1883 Law Rep.: Appeal Cases 8 453 The girder which was clinched into the plaintiff's party-wall.
a. To clasp, interlock, esp. to clasp (the hands) tightly together with the fingers interlocked. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Dict. at Enclavijar los dedos To clinch the hands with the fingers one betweene another.
a1701 C. Sedley Poems in Wks. (1722) I. 32 Or dully hang, clinch'd in each others Feet [of bees].
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > posture > act of drawing body into compact form > drawn into compact form [verb (transitive)] > clench
clitchc1025
fasten1559
knit1602
set1602
clinch1624
clench1755
grippen1814
grip1861
ball1890
1624 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 2) i. iii. i. iii. 170 Like her..that thought she could shake all the world with her finger, and was afraid to clinch her hand together.
1632 R. Sherwood Dict. in R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues (new ed.) To clinch the fist, serrer le poing.
1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. i. vi. 93 With my Fist clenched.
1802 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 8 405 The patient..would..strike..her head and breast with her hands clinched.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > posture > act of drawing body into compact form > drawn into compact form [verb (intransitive)] > clench
clunch1628
clinch1652
clench1843
1652 J. Gaule Πυς-μαντια 186 Toes that clinch together.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 222 When I spoke the Words, my Hands would clinch together, and my Fingers press the Palms of my Hands.
d. intransitive. To close and struggle at close grips. (Now U.S. Cf. clinch n.1 5.)
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society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > fight [verb (intransitive)] > fight at close quarters > grapple
buckle1535
strangle1595
ingrapple1599
grapple1825
clinch1828
1828 Yankee May 174/3 A native Yankee..would never be the first to strike a blow, nor hardly ever the first to clinch, as he calls it.
e. spec. in Boxing. To fall into a clinch (see clinch n.1 5b). Also transitive with person as object.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > box [verb (intransitive)] > fall into clinch
clinch1860
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > box [verb (transitive)] > grapple with
clinch1860
1860 O. W. Holmes Elsie Venner (1887) 39 The rough-and-tumble fighters all clinch.
1863 in H. D. Miles Pugilistica (1881) III. 516/2 The Yankee again ‘clinching’—we must borrow an Americanism which expresses more than our word ‘closing’—succeeded in once more putting on the ‘hug’ and throwing King heavily.
1887 Courier-Jrnl. (Louisville, Kentucky) 17 Jan. 5/2 Glass returned with a blow on Bowen's neck. The men then clinched.
1893 Doran Sci. Self-def. 84 You can also take this hold as your opponent endeavours to clinch you.
1899 Life of Bob Fitzsimmons 6 In the sixth round the men clinched.
1899 Life of Bob Fitzsimmons 14 The clinching was of the hottest kind.
1910 J. J. Corbett My Life & Fights 26 I clinched with Kilrain.
1923 L. R. Tosswill Boxing Up-to-date 58 In competitions held under the auspices of the Royal Navy and Army..the command ‘Break away’ is given by the referee the moment the boxers clinch.
f. intransitive. To embrace. (Cf. clinch n.1 5c.) colloquial (originally U.S.).
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the mind > emotion > love > embrace > [verb (intransitive)]
clipc1305
halchc1650
clinch1900
1900 G. Ade Fables in Slang 60 George was sitting on the Front Porch with a good Side Hold on..Mabel... While they were Clinched, Mabel's Father..came down the Stairway.
1952 P. G. Wodehouse Pigs have Wings viii. 157 ‘I saw them together. Close together,’ said Lady Constance significantly. ‘God bless my soul! What, clinched together?’ ‘When I saw them, they were not actually embracing.’
1953 Punch 26 Aug. 274/1 They..sit like lovers about to clinch.
3. transitive. Nautical. To make fast the end of a rope in a particular way: see clinch n.1 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > other nautical operations > [verb (transitive)] > bind or fasten
to turn in?1537
frap1548
reeve1627
seize1644
nip1670
marl1704
marline1706
clinch1780
nipper1794
clench1803
to turn in1834
1780 Falconer's Universal Dict. Marine (rev. ed.) App. Etalinguer, to clinch the cable to it's anchor.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk.
4. intransitive. To fix oneself, fasten on.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fact or action of being joined or joining > attachment > be or become attached or affixed [verb (intransitive)] > remain attached > adhere
cleavec897
to stick (cleave, cling, etc.) like a burc1330
sita1398
clinga1400
clengec1400
engleim?1440
adhere1557
clag1563
clasp1569
clencha1600
clung1601
clam1610
yclingec1620
affix1695
clinch1793
to stick (to one) like wax1809
cleam-
1793 J. Leslie tr. Comte de Buffon Nat. Hist. Birds VI. 165 The savages held out a stick on which the birds clinched.
5. transitive. To make firm and sure (a matter, assertion, argument, bargain, etc.); to drive home; to make conclusive, confirm, establish. Also clench v.1
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > completing > complete (an action or piece of work) [verb (transitive)] > settle conclusively
clint1575
clenchc1677
clincha1714
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > prove, demonstrate [verb (transitive)] > conclusively
clint1575
stick1611
clenchc1677
clincha1714
nail1787
a1714 J. Sharp Serm. against Popery (1735) vii. 163 The Council of Trent..clincheth the Business as effectually as possible.
1728 C. Cibber Vanbrugh's Provok'd Husband iv. i. 71 How stands your Affair with Miss..? C. Bas... It drives like a Nail, we want nothing now but a Parson, to clinch it.
1786 A. M. Bennett Juvenile Indiscretions I. 90 No man..knew better how to clinch a good bargain in his dealings.
1868 E. Edwards Life Sir W. Ralegh I. x. 198 He clinches this argument by drawing a terrible picture.
1871 E. A. Freeman Hist. Ess. 1st Ser. xi. 366 They clinched, as it were, the whole matter.
ΚΠ
1803 Ld. Nelson 18 Oct. in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) V. 252 If he offers his services you may be sure I will then clinch him for Mrs. Nelson's brother.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > common sense > be witty with words [verb (intransitive)] > pun
allude1556
clinch1648
quibble1650
pun1670
1648 J. Birkenhead News from Pembroke 4 I have given you Dr. Wals place, for the weakest goes to the Wall (you must give me leave to clinch).
a1687 Duke of Buckingham Adv. Painter in Wks. (1705) II. 82 Let 'em all clinch round.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
clinchv.2
Scottish.
To limp, halt.
ΚΠ
a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Trial of Fox l. 968 in Poems (1981) 40 Clinscheand he come, that he micht not be kend.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) v. v. 65 The tother part, lamyt, clynschis.
a1653 Z. Boyd Zion's Flowers (1855) App. p. xxxii/2 The creples..would clinch out upon their stilts.
1737 W. Meston Old Mother Grim's Tales ix. 59 Brookie..Clench'd out of Doors.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
† clinchv.3
Obsolete. rare.
intransitive. = clink v.1 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > resonance or sonority > ringing sound > ring [verb (intransitive)] > clink or chink
clinkc1386
clinchc1440
twinka1529
chink1589
to cry clink1607
jink1828
plink1877
clink-clank1921
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 81 Cleppyn or clynchyn. [1499 Pynson, Clyppyn or clynkyn, tinnio.]
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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n.11626
n.21790
v.11570v.2?a1500
v.3c1440