Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Clam?

\Clam\, n. [Cf. {Clamp}, {Clam}, v. t., {Clammy}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) A bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those that are edible; as, the long clam ({Mya arenaria}), the quahog or round clam ({Venus mercenaria}), the sea clam or hen clam ({Spisula solidissima}), and other species of the United States. The name is said to have been given originally to the {Tridacna gigas}, a huge East Indian bivalve. You shall scarce find any bay or shallow shore, or cove of sand, where you may not take many clampes, or lobsters, or both, at your pleasure. --Capt. John Smith (1616). Clams, or clamps, is a shellfish not much unlike a coclke; it lieth under the sand. --Wood (1634). 2. (Ship Carp.) Strong pinchers or forceps. 3. pl. (Mech.) A kind of vise, usually of wood. {Blood clam}. See under {Blood}.
\Clam\ (cl[a^]m), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Clammed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Clamming}.] [Cf. AS. cl[ae]man to clam, smear; akin to Icel. kleima to smear, OHG. kleimjan, chleimen, to defile, or E. clammy.] To clog, as with glutinous or viscous matter. A swarm of wasps got into a honey pot, and there they cloyed and clammed Themselves till there was no getting out again. --L'Estrange.
\Clam\, v. i. To be moist or glutinous; to stick; to adhere. [R.] --Dryden
\Clam\, n. Claminess; moisture. [R.] ``The clam of death.'' --Carlyle.
\Clam\, n. [Abbrev. fr. clamor.] A crash or clangor made by ringing all the bells of a chime at once. --Nares.
\Clam\, v. t. & i. To produce, in bell ringing, a clam or clangor; to cause to clang. --Nares.