Part 290

Clinch, v. i. To hold fast; to grasp something firmly; to seize or grasp one another.

Clinch (kl&ibreve;nch), n. 1. The act or process of holding fast; that which serves to hold fast; a grip; a grasp; a clamp; a holdfast; as, to get a good clinch of an antagonist, or of a weapon; to secure anything by a clinch.

2. A pun. Pope.

3. (Naut.) A hitch or bend by which a rope is made fast to the ring of an anchor, or the breeching of a ship's gun to the ringbolts.

Clinch"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, clinches; that which holds fast. Pope.

2. That which ends a dispute or controversy; a decisive argument.

Clinch"er-built (?), a. See Clinker-built.

Cling (kl&ibreve;ng), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clung (klŭng), Clong (kl&obreve;ng), Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Clinging.] [AS. clingan to adhere, to wither; akin to Dan. klynge to cluster, crowd. Cf. Clump.] To adhere closely; to stick; to hold fast, especially by twining round or embracing; as, the tendril of a vine clings to its support; -- usually followed by to or together.

And what hath life for thee That thou shouldst cling to it thus? Mrs. Hemans.

Cling, v. t. 1. To cause to adhere to, especially by twining round or embracing. [Obs.]

I clung legs as close to his side as I could. Swift.

2. To make to dry up or wither. [Obs.]

If thou speak'st false, Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive, Till famine cling thee. Shak.

Cling, n. Adherence; attachment; devotion. [R.]

A more tenacious cling to worldly respects. Milton.

Cling"stone` (?), a. Having the flesh attached closely to the stone, as in some kinds of peaches. -- n. A fruit, as a peach, whose flesh adheres to the stone.

Cling"y (?), a. Apt to cling; adhesive. [R.]

Clin"ic (?), n. [See Clinical.] 1. One confined to the bed by sickness.

2. (Eccl.) One who receives baptism on a sick bed. [Obs.] Hook.

3. (Med.) A school, or a session of a school or class, in which medicine or surgery is taught by the examination and treatment of patients in the presence of the pupils.

{ Clin"ic*al (kl&ibreve;n"&ibreve;k*al), Clin"ic (kl&ibreve;n"&ibreve;k) }, a. [Gr. kliniko`s, fr. kli`nh bed, fr. kli`nein to lean, recline: cf. F. clinique. See Lean, v. i.] 1. Of or pertaining to a bed, especially, a sick bed.

2. Of or pertaining to a clinic, or to the study of disease in the living subject.

Clinical baptism, baptism administered to a person on a sick bed. -- Clinical instruction, instruction by means of clinics. -- Clinical lecture (Med.), a discourse upon medical topics illustrated by the exhibition and examination of living patients. -- Clinical medicine, Clinical surgery, that part of medicine or surgery which is occupied with the investigation of disease in the living subject.

Clin"ic*al*ly, adv. In a clinical manner.

||Cli*nique" (?), n. [F.] (Med.) A clinic.

||Clin"i*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. kli`nh bed.] (Bot.) See Clinanthium.

Clink (kl&ibreve;&nsm;k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clinked (kl&ibreve;&nsm;kt); p. pr. & vb. n. Clinking.] [OE. clinken; akin to G. klingen, D. klinken, SW. klinga, Dan. klinge; prob. of imitative origin. Cf. Clank, Clench, Click, v. i.] To cause to give out a slight, sharp, tinkling, sound, as by striking metallic or other sonorous bodies together.

And let me the canakin clink. Shak.