transitive. To take hold of and detain or restrain (a person), esp. suddenly or forcibly; to seize and hold on to (a person or thing); to grasp.

transitive. To take hold of (a person or animal) forcibly; to grasp, seize, or manhandle; spec. to seize by a part of the body. Obsolete.

To catch or lay hold of suddenly.

transitive. To seize with claws or clutches; to seize convulsively or eagerly. Also with away, off, up: to snatch with clutches.

transitive. To seize and pull in as with a claw or crook, to cleek, v. Obsolete.

transitive. To seize with the clutch or hand; to lay hold of, clutch, grasp, or seize, firmly, suddenly, or eagerly. Also to cleek hold (of).

intransitive. Perhaps: to clutch, to snatch; = cleach, v. 1 or clitch, v. 4.

transitive. To clutch, snatch, seize, take hold of (also figurative); = cleek, v. Also occasionally intransitive. Also with up.

To have a physically damaging or destructive effect on (a person). transitive. Of a natural force, a predator, etc.: to obtain as a victim; to…

to seize hold of: to take hold of suddenly and roughly: cf. to take hold at hold, n.1 phrases, hold, n.1 2.