Clung (?), imp. & p. p. of Cling.
Clung, a. [Prop. p. p. fr. OE. clingen to wither. See Cling, v. i.] Wasted away; shrunken. [Obs.]
Clu"ni*ac (?), n. (Eccl. Hist.) A monk of the reformed branch of the Benedictine Order, founded in 912 at Cluny (or Clugny) in France. -- Also used as a.
Clu`ni*a*cen"sian (?), a. Cluniac.
Clu"pe*oid (?), a. [L. clupea a kind of fish, NL., generic name of the herring + -oid.] (Zo÷l.) Of or pertaining to the Herring family.
Clus"ter (klŭs"t&etilde;r), n. [AS. cluster, clyster; cf. LG. kluster (also Sw. & Dan. klase a cluster of grapes, D. klissen to be entangled?.)] 1. A number of things of the same kind growing together; a bunch.
Her deeds were like great clusters of ripe grapes,
Which load the bunches of the fruitful vine.
Spenser.
2. A number of similar things collected together or lying contiguous; a group; as, a cluster of islands. "Cluster of provinces." Motley.
3. A number of individuals grouped together or collected in one place; a crowd; a mob.
As bees . . .
Pour forth their populous youth about the hive
In clusters.
Milton.
We loved him; but, like beasts
And cowardly nobles, gave way unto your clusters,
Who did hoot him out o' the city.
Shak.
Clus"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clustered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Clustering.] To grow in clusters or assemble in groups; to gather or unite in a cluster or clusters.
His sunny hair
Cluster'd about his temples, like a god's.
Tennyson.
The princes of the country clustering together.
Foxe.
Clus"ter, v. t. To collect into a cluster or clusters; to gather into a bunch or close body.
Not less the bee would range her cells, . . .
The foxglove cluster dappled bells.
Tennyson.
Or from the forest falls the clustered snow.
Thomson.
Clustered column (Arch.), a column which is composed, or appears to be composed, of several columns collected together.
Clus"ter*ing*ly, adv. In clusters.
Clus"ter*y (?), a. [From Cluster, n.] Growing in, or full of, clusters; like clusters. Johnson.
Clutch (klŭch; 224), n. [OE. cloche, cloke, claw, Scot. clook, cleuck, also OE. cleche claw, clechen, cleken, to seize; cf. AS. gelŠccan (where ge- is a prefix) to seize. Cf. Latch a catch.] 1. A gripe or clinching with, or as with, the fingers or claws; seizure; grasp. "The clutch of poverty." Cowper.
An expiring clutch at popularity.
Carlyle.
But Age, with his stealing steps,
Hath clawed me in his clutch.
Shak.
2. pl. The hands, claws, or talons, in the act of grasping firmly; -- often figuratively, for power, rapacity, or cruelty; as, to fall into the clutches of an adversary.
I must have . . . little care of myself, if I ever more come near the clutches of such a giant.
Bp. Stillingfleet.
3. (Mach.) A device which is used for coupling shafting, etc., so as to transmit motion, and which may be disengaged at pleasure.