clunch

English

Etymology 1

Perhaps related to clump. Compare hump, hunch; lump, lunch, etc.

Noun

clunch (countable and uncountable, plural clunches)

1. (UK) A traditional building material mostly made of chalk or clay.

   clunch pit

   • 1736, Charles Parkin, History of Norfolk, volume 6:

     The manor-house stands near the church, and is a large convenient old house built of clunch, stone, &c. with good gardens and walks adjoining to the river side.

Etymology 2

Alteration of clench.

Verb

clunch (third-person singular simple present clunches, present participle clunching, simple past and past participle clunched)

1. (transitive) To grasp firmly; clench.
   • 1920, Nephi Anderson, The Boys of Springtown, page 15:

     As William Wallace felt the bank giving away under his feet, he clunched the other boy firmly by the arm.