clampers, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

clampers n.

also clamps

1. (US) the hands.

1881

J.C. Harris Uncle Remus 119: Brer Ba’r got his clampers on him good.

2. (US Und.) handcuffs.

1949

Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn) 51: clamps Handcuffs.

3. (UK Und.) wire connections used in telephone tapping.

1955

B. Hill Boss of Britain’s Underworld 218: On went the clampers again, and more telephopnes than ever were tapped.

put on the clampers (v.) (also put on the clamps)

to restrain, to hold back.

1906		J.W. Carr ‘Words from Northwest Arkansas’ in DN III:ii 131: clamp(er)s, n. In the expression, ‘put the clampers on,’ meaning to check or restrain.
1936		(con. 1830s–60s) ‘Miles Franklin’ All That Swagger 8: As soon as ye’r back is turned, they’ll put on the clampers.

put the clamps on (v.)

1. (US ) to steal.

1903		A.H. Lewis Boss 375: He wanted things rigged so’s he could put the clamps on our party.
1960, 1975		Wentworth & Flexner DAS.

2. (US Und.) of the police, to clamp down on crime.

1940		S. Sterling ‘Ten Carats of Lead’ in Black Mask Stories (2010) 229/1: The mob that knocked her off has gone kill-crazy. If we don’t put the clamps on ’em--.
1949		Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn).

3. (US) to make somebody into one’s spouse.

1910

O. Johnson Varmint 391: Sis is going to put the clamps on that [W&F].