An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Kluppe
Kluppe, feminine, ‘pincers,’ from Middle High German kluppe, feminine, ‘tongs, barnacles, splinter,’ Old High German kluppa, feminine, ‘tongs.’ Kluppe, like Modern High German Kluft (dialectic) ‘tongs,’ is also derived from Old Teutonic kliuban, ‘to split, cleave’; unfortunately correspondences in other dialects are wanting (Gothic *klubjô?). Compare klieben, klauben, and Kluft.