CLUTCH

I. verb Etymology: Middle English clucchen, from Old English clyccan Date: before 12th century transitive verb to grasp or hold with or as if with the hand or claws usually strongly, tightly, or suddenly, clench , intransitive verb to seek to grasp and hold , to operate an automobile ~, see: take II. noun Date: 13th century 1. the claws or a hand in the act of grasping or seizing firmly, an often cruel or unrelenting control, power, or possession , the act of grasping, holding, or restraining, 2. a coupling used to connect and disconnect a driving and a driven part (as an engine and a transmission) of a mechanism, a lever (as a pedal) operating such a ~, a tight or critical situation ; pinch , ~ bag , III. adjective Date: 1944 made or done in a crucial situation , successful in a crucial situation , IV. noun Etymology: alteration of dialect English cletch hatching, brood Date: 1721 a nest of eggs or a brood of chicks, group , bunch