Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - clamp

1. n. & v. --n. 1 a device, esp. a brace or band of iron etc., for strengthening other materials or holding things together. 2 a device for immobilizing an illegally parked car. --v.tr. 1 strengthen or fasten with a clamp. 2 place or hold firmly. 3 immobilize (an illegally parked car) by fixing a clamp to one of its wheels. Phrases and idioms clamp down 1 (often foll. by on) be rigid in enforcing a rule etc. 2 (foll. by on) try to suppress. clamp-down n. severe restriction or suppression. Etymology: ME prob. f. MDu., MLG klamp(e) 2. n. 1 a heap of potatoes or other root vegetables stored under straw or earth. 2 a pile of bricks for burning. 3 a pile of turf or peat or garden rubbish etc. Etymology: 16th c.: prob. f. Du. klamp heap (in sense 2 related to CLUMP)