Meaning

noun a device (generally used by carpenters) that holds things firmly together

verb fasten or fix with a clamp

verb impose or inflict forcefully

originFrom Middle Dutch clamp, klampe (“a clamp, hook”), from Proto-Germanic *klampō (“clamp, clasp, cramp”), related to Proto-West Germanic *klammjan. Cognate with Middle Low German klampe (“hook, clasp”), German Klampfe, Klampe (“clamp, cleat”), Norwegian klamp (“clamp”), Alemannic German Chlempi.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0