clam en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /klæm/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- /klɛm/ (New-Zealand)
- /klæːm/ (Australia)
- [kleːm] ~ [klɛːm] Australia, æ-raising
- /klam/ (British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales)
- [kleəm] ~ [klɛəm] General American, æ-raising
- (US) audio
Etymology
From Middle English clam (“pincers, vice, clamp”), from Old English clam (“bond, fetter, grip, grasp”), from Proto-West Germanic *klammjan (“press, squeeze together”). The sense “dollar” may allude to wampum. The sense "Scientologist" alludes to the Scientologist belief that human thetans (souls) previously inhabited clams.
Meanings
-
A bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those that are edible; for example soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria), hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria), sea clams or hen clams (Spisula solidissima), and other species, possibly originally applied to clams of species Tridacna gigas, a huge East Indian bivalve.
My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out. Clams was fairly scarce over that side of the bay and ought to fetch a fair price.
1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter III, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:Long as I have my clams I don't give a damn about revolution / Long as I have my rice I don't have to think twice about a solution
1970, “Cherrystones”, in Outlaw, performed by Eugene McDaniels:
- (historical, in-plural) A type of strong pincers or forceps.
- A kind of vise, usually of wood.
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(US, in-plural, slang) A dollar.
The network canceled—nonco-operation their legal shysters said. Suing me, for, for ten million clams, damages to sponsors, agencies.
1973, Lucas Webb, Stribling, page 188:Those sneakers cost me fifty clams!
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(derogatory, slang) A Scientologist.
So the clams have John Travolta, Tom Cruise, et al in their hot li'l ol'P-R hands […]
1998 February 23, jesparolini, “CO$ Celebrities: USEFUL IDIOTS”, in alt.religion.scientology (Usenet):
- (slang, vulgar) A vagina or vulva.
-
(slang) A wrong or misplaced note.
You had too many fucking days off, and you think this is a game? You think I'm the only one that's going to work up there while you motherfuckers sit out there and clam all over this fucking joint? What do you think this is anyhow? What kind of playing do you think this is? What kind of miscues do you call this?... You afraid you won't be heard? Everybody can hear your fucking clams out there. You don't need a mic for that. You taking up too much time blowing what? Shit! You stand out here all fucking night trying to blow your brains out. When it comes time to play, what do you play? Clams?! You got nowhere to fucking go the next day. I hear one fucking clam from anybody, you've had it! One clam and this whole fucking band is through tonight. Try me!
1980s, Buddy Rich, bus recording of Buddy Rich by pianist Lee Musiker, YouTube:
- (informal) One who clams up; a taciturn person, one who refuses to speak.
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(US, dated, slang) mouth (Now found mostly in the expression shut one's clam)
Jason wouldn't shut his clam about the invaders.
2017, Benjamin Kane Ethridge, Dungeon Brain:Why, he hasn't opened his clam since that morning in your room. I expected he would hold forth on every and all occasions.
1900, Burt L. Standish, Frank Merriwell's Tricks: Or True Friends and False:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| clams | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
clamless · tea clam · clambroth · bar clam · bearded clam · clam shack · Chinese clam · crocus clam · Manila clam · shut up like a clam · bear paw clam · clamdiggers · steamer clam · littleneck clam · pompano clam · surf clam · sand clam · hard-shell clam · sea clam · strawberry clam · elephant trunk clam · pismo clam · boring clam · Clam Falls · Pacific littleneck clam · Washington clam · clam cake · mahogany clam · clam shrimp · horse's hoof clam · rock clam · happy as a clam at high tide · ark clam · clam chowder · otter shell clam · Palourde clam · amethyst gem clam · gaper clam · calico clam · electric clam · dipper clam · clam up · nut clam · hen clam · clamburger · long-neck clam · soft-shell clam · Asian clam · chestnut clam · scaly clam · clam licker · basket clam · duck clam · clambake · beach clam · Atlantic jackknife clam · paw clam · Venus clam · smooth clam · fluted giant clam · Clam Union · jackknife clam · clam gun · sunrise clam · maxima clam · bean clam · Clam Lake · horse clam · giant clam · Korean clam · round clam · clamlike · clam smacker · saffron-coloured clam · clam worm · coquina clam · iron clam · fingernail clam · butterfly clam · hard clam · Arctic surf clam · heart clam · clamshell · razor clam · bamboo clam · Asiatic clam · cherrystone clam · American jackknife clam · soft clam · Ipswich clam · freshwater clam · clam hoe · hoseshoe clam · clamdigger · big-necked clam · black clam · clam rake · Pacific clam · clamato · clam bake · small giant clam · Pacific razor clam · pea clam · piss clam · hardshell clam · king clam · butter clam · disco clam · clam-shell · happy as a clam at high water · Japanese littleneck clam · Atlantic surf clam · little neck clam · Essex clam · happy as a clam · clammish · blood clam
Translations (87)
ast cáscara (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · tr istiridye (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · ru моллю́ск (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · sh škȏljka (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · fi simpukka (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · es almeja (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · sv mussla (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · hu kagyló (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · be малю́ск (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · ga breallach (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · ja 浅蜊 (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · it arsella (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · chy hexōvo (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · pt amêijoa (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · cmn 蛤蜊 (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · sh шко̑љка (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · es chirla (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · xpq poqáh (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · de Klaffmuschel (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · eu txirla (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · yi קלאַם (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · co vongola (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · abe als (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · bg ми́да (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · oj es (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · mh jenǫ (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · ko 조개 (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · no blåskjell (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · unm èhës (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · es chocha (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · iu ammuumajuq (ammuumajuq) (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · mk школка (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · mic e's (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · cmn 蜆 /蚬 (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · fr praire (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · gl ameixa (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · ru двуство́рчатый моллю́ск (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · cy cragen fylchog (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · ast amasuela (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · cr ᐁᓯᐢ (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · cmn 文蛤 (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · cmn 蛤 (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · sl škóljka (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · eo pekteno (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · ja 蛤 (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · alq poquauhock (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · ca cloïssa (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · ja ハマグリ (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · pl małż (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · th หอยกาบ (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · yue 蜆 /蚬 (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · ms kepah (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · io muslo (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · el αχιβάδα (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · ast almexa (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · vi sò (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · my ခုံးကောင် (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · tl kabibe (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · uk молю́ск (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · css hakkaw (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · uk двостулковий молю́ск (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · eo ruditapo (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · dsb wenusowa mušla (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · he צִדְפָּה (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · cr ᐁᓴ (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · cs škeble (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · es amayuela (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · cmn 蚌 (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · fr palourde (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · no musling (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · he צֶדֶף (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · eo muslo (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · xpq suksuw (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · be двухра́кавінкавы малю́ск (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · lkt tuki (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · it vongola (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · nl mossel (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · uli ddoh (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · vi nghêu (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · ro moluscă comestibilă (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · la mollusca (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · nv chʼosh bitsʼaʼ doolkʼoolígíí (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · de Muschel (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · ja アサリ (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · tr midye (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · de Venusmuschel (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel) · it tellina (mollusc — see also mollusc, oyster, mussel)