clincher
(ˈklɪnʃə(r))
[f. clinch v.1 + -er. Cf. clencher.]
One who or that which clinches.
† 1. Formerly, A workman who clinched the bolts in ship-building. Obs.
| 1495 Act 11 Hen. VII, c. 22 The wages of a Maister Shipwright by the day iiijd..An able clyncher by the day iid. 1514 Fitzherb. Just. Peas (1538) 93 An able clincher [shal take] by the day 2d and without meat and drinke 4d. 1651 Assessment in Rogers Agric. & Prices VI. 695 [Mastershipwright, 4 under him; Hewers or common shipwrights; Able clincher; Able holder; Master calker; Calkers labouring by tide; Mean calker.] 1764 Burn Poor Laws 15. |
2. A nail, etc. used for clinching.
| 1725 Pope Odyss. v. 318 With [wimbles] he pierc'd 'em, and with clinchers bound. |
3. A tool for clinching nails.
| 1874 in Knight Dict. Mech. I. 566. |
4. A conclusive statement, argument, etc.; a ‘finisher’, ‘settler’.
colloq.| 1737 Lond. Mag. Jan. 14/1 This is a Clincher, i'faith; for if Twenty such Laws could be actually produced, no Man in his Senses would do it. 1775 Garrick Let. 27 Aug. (1832) II. 82 To introduce for a Clincher, and confirm the young man in his good resolutions. 1804 Anecd. Bp. Watson, Let. Oct. (R.), If he is obliged to strike a last blow, it will be a clincher. 1806–7 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) Post. Groans No. 34 In a conversational sparring-match..as you triumphantly prepare for a pinch of snuff, by way of clincher to a caustic hit. 1965 Listener 26 Aug. 292/2 It would be a relief to tie up this discussion with the clincher that they started and led the riots. 1968 International Herald Tribune 3 Sept. 7/3 But the clincher was a stunning rise of 28 percent in the number of robberies. |
† 5. A punster.
Obs.| 1693 W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. 340 A clincher Homo festivus, urbanus. 1708–15 Kersey, Clincher, a witty or ingenious Person, that makes smart Repartees. 1721–1800 in Bailey. |
† 6. A clinker-built vessel.
Obs.| 1678 Phillips Clincher, a Bark, Boat, or small Ship, whose Planks are Larded over one an other. (Hence in Kersey and Bailey.) 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1789) Clincar, a sort of flat-bottomed clinker-built pram. |
7. Comb. clincher-built = clinker-built;
clincher-work, (
a) lap-jointed work, as in boats of a lighter construction, weather boarding, shingling; (
b) a similar work in which iron plates are lapped and riveted. So
clincher-build,
clincher-plating.
| 1769 St. James' Chron. 10–11 Aug. 2/2 Pleasure Yacht, *clincher-built..26 Tons. 1820 Scoresby Arctic Reg. II. 223 The principle has since been acted upon in clincher-built boats. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Clincher or Clinker Built, made of clincher-work, by the planks lapping one over the other. The contrary of carvel-work. |
| 1874 Knight Dict. Mech. s.v. Clincher-work, Clincher-build, *clincher-plating, clincher-work, and, erroneously, clinker-work. |
| 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1789), *Clincher-work. 1805 Mariner's Dict., Carvel Work, in contradistinction to clincher work. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Clincher-work, the disposition of the planks in the side of any boat or vessel, when the lower edge of every plank overlaps that next below it. This is sometimes written as pronounced, clinker-work. |