An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Kluppe
Kluppe, f., ‘pincers,’ from MidHG. kluppe, f., ‘tongs, barnacles, splinter,’ OHG. kluppa, f., ‘tongs.’ Kluppe, like ModHG. Kluft (dial.) ‘tongs,’ is also derived from OTeut. kliuban, ‘to split, cleave’; unfortunately correspondences in other dialects are wanting (Goth. *klubjô?). Comp. klieben, klauben, and Kluft.