Word Study
clam
CIDE DICTIONARY
- 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 theTridacna gigas , a huge East Indian bivalve. [1913 Webster]"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." [1913 Webster]"Clams, or clamps, is a shellfish not much unlike a cockle; it lieth under the sand." [1913 Webster] - Strong pinchers or forceps. [1913 Webster]
- A kind of vise, usually of wood. [1913 Webster]
clam, v. t. [Cf. AS. clæman 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. [1913 Webster]
"A swarm of wasps got into a honey pot, and there they cloyed and clammed Themselves till there was no getting out again." [1913 Webster]
clam, v. i.
To be moist or glutinous; to stick; to adhere. Dryden [1913 Webster]
clam, n.
Claminess; moisture. Carlyle. [1913 Webster]
clam, n. [Abbrev. fr. clamor.].
A crash or clangor made by ringing all the bells of a chime at once. Nares. [1913 Webster]
clam, v. t. & i.
To produce, in bell ringing, a clam or clangor; to cause to clang. Nares. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
clam, n. & v.
--n.
1 any bivalve mollusc, esp. the edible N. American hard or round clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) or the soft or long clam (Mya arenaria).
2 colloq. a shy or withdrawn person.
--v.intr. (clammed, clamming)
1 dig for clams.
2 (foll. by up) colloq. refuse to talk.
--n.
1 any bivalve mollusc, esp. the edible N. American hard or round clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) or the soft or long clam (Mya arenaria).
2 colloq. a shy or withdrawn person.
--v.intr. (clammed, clamming)
1 dig for clams.
2 (foll. by up) colloq. refuse to talk.
Etymology
16th c.: app. f. clam a clamp
THESAURUS
clam
Chilopoda, Chordata, Dungeness crab, Echiuroidea, Ectoprocta, Entoprocta, Japanese crab, Laconian, Monoplacophora, Nemertinea, Phoronidea, Spartan, angle, bait the hook, blue point, bob, coquillage, crab, crawdad, crawfish, crayfish, dap, dib, dibble, drive, fish, fly-fish, gig, go fishing, grig, guddle, jack, jacklight, jig, laconic, langouste, limpet, littleneck clam, lobster, mussel, net, oyster, periwinkle, prawn, quahog, scallop, seine, shellfish, shrimp, snail, soft-shell crab, spin, steamer, still-fish, torch, trawl, troll, whale, whelkROGET THESAURUS
clam
Food
N food, eating, deglutition, gulp, epulation, mastication, manducation, rumination, gluttony, hippophagy, ichthyophagy, (appetite), mouth, jaws, mandible, mazard, gob, chops, drinking, potation, draught, libation, carousal, drunkenness, food, pabulum, aliment, nourishment, nutriment, sustenance, sustentation, sustention, nurture, subsistence, provender, corn, feed, fodder, provision, ration, keep, commons, board, commissariat, prey, forage, pasture, pasturage, fare, cheer, diet, dietary, regimen, belly timber, staff of life, bread, bread and cheese, comestibles, eatables, victuals, edibles, ingesta, grub, grubstake, prog, meat, bread, bread stuffs, cerealia, cereals, viands, cates, delicacy, dainty, creature comforts, contents of the larder, fleshpots, festal board, ambrosia, good cheer, good living, beef, bisquit, bun, cornstarch, cookie, cooky, cracker, doughnut, fatling, hardtack, hoecake, hominy, mutton, pilot bread, pork, roti, rusk, ship biscuit, veal, joint, piece de resistance, roast and boiled, remove, entremet, releve, hash, rechauffe, stew, ragout, fricassee, mince, pottage, potage, broth, soup, consomme, puree, spoonmeat, pie, pasty, volauvent, pudding, omelet, pastry, sweets, kickshaws, condiment, appetizer, hors d'oeuvre, main course, entree, alligator pear, apple, apple slump, artichoke, ashcake, griddlecake, pancake, flapjack, atole, avocado, banana, beche de mer, barbecue, beefsteak, beet root, blackberry, blancmange, bloater, bouilli, bouillon, breadfruit, chop suey, chowder, chupatty, clam, compote, damper, fish, frumenty, grapes, hasty pudding, ice cream, lettuce, mango, mangosteen, mince pie, oatmeal, oyster, pineapple, porridge, porterhouse steak, salmis, sauerkraut, sea slug, sturgeon ("Albany beef"), succotash, supawn, trepang, vanilla, waffle, walnut, table, cuisine, bill of fare, menu, table d'hote, ordinary, entree, meal, repast, feed, spread, mess, dish, plate, course, regale, regalement, refreshment, entertainment, refection, collation, picnic, feast, banquet, junket, breakfast, lunch, luncheon, dejeuner, bever, tiffin, dinner, supper, snack, junk food, fast food, whet, bait, dessert, potluck, table d'hote, dejeuner a la fourchette, hearty meal, square meal, substantial meal, full meal, blowout, light refreshment, bara, chotahazri, bara khana, mouthful, bolus, gobbet, morsel, sop, sippet, drink, beverage, liquor, broth, soup, potion, dram, draught, drench, swill, nip, sip, sup, gulp, wine, spirits, liqueur, beer, ale, malt liquor, Sir John Barleycorn, stingo, heavy wet, grog, toddy, flip, purl, punch, negus, cup, bishop, wassail, gin, coffee, chocolate, cocoa, tea, the cup that cheers but not inebriates, bock beer, lager beer, Pilsener beer, schenck beer, Brazil tea, cider, claret, ice water, mate, mint julep, near beer, 2 beer, non- alcoholic beverage, eating house, diner, hippophage, glutton, eatable, edible, esculent, comestible, alimentary, cereal, cibarious, dietetic, culinary, nutritive, nutritious, gastric, succulent, potable, potulent, bibulous, omnivorous, carnivorous, herbivorous, granivorous, graminivorous, phytivorous, ichthyivorous, omophagic, omophagous, pantophagous, phytophagous, xylophagous, across the walnuts and the wine, blessed hour of our dinners!, now good digestion wait on appetite, and health on both!, who can cloy the hungry edge of appetite?.For further exploring for "clam" in Webster Dictionary Online
