Crutch vs. Clutch — What's the Difference?

A crutch is a mobility aid that transfers weight from the legs to the upper body. It is often used by people who cannot use their legs to support their weight, for reasons ranging from short-term injuries to lifelong disabilities.

A clutch is a mechanical device that engages and disengages power transmission, especially from a drive shaft (driving shaft) to a driven shaft. In the simplest application, clutches connect and disconnect two rotating shafts (drive shafts or line shafts).

A support used by an injured or disabled person, often in pairs, as an aid to walking, having a vertical shaft that is sometimes forked, a horizontal grip for the hand, and a crosspiece that is positioned under the armpit or a cuff that wraps around the forearm.

To grasp and hold tightly

Something on which one depends, often excessively

To seize; snatch

A forked support or part.

To attempt to grasp or seize

A forked leg rest on a sidesaddle.

To engage or disengage a motor vehicle's clutch.

(Archaic)The crotch of a person or animal.

To hatch (chicks).

To move using a crutch or crutches.

A hand, claw, talon, or paw in the act of grasping.

To support on a crutch or crutches.

A tight grasp.

A device to assist in motion as a cane, especially one that provides support under the arm to reduce weight on a leg.

Often clutches Control or power

Something that supports, often used negatively to indicate that it is not needed and causes an unhealthful dependency; a prop

A device for gripping and holding.

A crotch; the area of body where the legs fork from the trunk.

Any of various devices for engaging and disengaging two working parts of a shaft or of a shaft and a driving mechanism.

A form of pommel for a woman's saddle, consisting of a forked rest to hold the leg of the rider.

The apparatus, such as a lever or pedal, that activates one of these devices.

(nautical) A knee, or piece of knee timber.

A tense, critical situation

(nautical) A forked stanchion or post; a crotch.

A small, strapless purse that is carried in the hand.

(heraldry) A type of cross formed from two C-shapes joined back to back.

The complete set of eggs produced or incubated at one time.

(transitive) To support on crutches; to prop up.

A brood of chickens.

(intransitive) To move on crutches.

A group; a bunch.

(transitive) To shear the hindquarters of a sheep; to dag.

Being or occurring in a tense or critical situation

To stir with a crutch.

Tending to be successful in tense or critical situations

A staff with a crosspiece at the head, to be placed under the arm or shoulder, to support the lame or infirm in walking.

To seize, as though with claws.

A form of pommel for a woman's saddle, consisting of a forked rest to hold the leg of the rider.

To grip or grasp tightly.

A knee, or piece of knee timber

(video games) To win in a 1vX (one versus X) situation.

To support on crutches; to prop up.

To unexpectedly or luckily succeed in a difficult activity.

A wooden or metal staff that fits under the armpit and reaches to the ground; used by disabled person while walking

(transitive) To hatch.

Anything that serves as an expedient;

The claw of a predatory animal or bird.

(by extension) A grip, especially one seen as rapacious or evil.

A device to interrupt power transmission, commonly used to separate the engine and gearbox in a car.

The pedal in a car that disengages power and torque transmission from the engine (through the drivetrain) to the drive wheels.

Any device for gripping an object, as at the end of a chain or tackle.

A fastener that attaches to the back of a tack pin to secure an accessory to clothing. Clutch (pin fastener).}}

A small handbag or purse with no straps or handle.

A brood of chickens or a sitting of eggs.

A group or bunch (of people or things).

(US) An important or critical situation.

A difficult maneuver

Performing or tending to perform well in difficult, high-pressure situations.

A gripe or clinching with, or as with, the fingers or claws; seizure; grasp.

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.

A device which is used for coupling shafting, etc., so as to transmit motion, and which may be disengaged at pleasure.

Any device for gripping an object, as at the end of a chain or tackle.

The nest complement of eggs of a bird.

To seize, clasp, or grip with the hand, hands, or claws; - often figuratively; as, to clutch power.

To close tightly; to clinch.

To reach (at something) as if to grasp; to catch or snatch; - often followed by at.

To become too tense or frightened to perform properly; used sometimes with up; as, he clutched up on the exam.

The act of grasping;

A tense critical situation;

A number of birds hatched at the same time

A collection of things or persons to be handled together

A pedal that operates a clutch

A coupling that connects or disconnects driving and driven parts of a driving mechanism

Take hold of; grab;

Hold firmly, usually with one's hands;

Affect;