clam

noun

1. 1

   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.

   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

2. 2

   historicalA type of strong pincers or forceps.

3. 3

   A kind of vise, usually of wood.

4. 4

   slangA dollar.

   Those sneakers cost me fifty clams!

   The network canceled—nonco-operation their legal shysters said. Suing me, for, for ten million clams, damages to sponsors, agencies.

5. 5

   slangA Scientologist.

   So the clams have John Travolta, Tom Cruise, et al in their hot li'l ol'P-R hands […]

6. 6

   slangA vagina or vulva.

7. 7

   slangA wrong or misplaced note.

8. 8

   informalOne who clams up; a taciturn person, one who refuses to speak.

9. 9

   datedmouth (Now found mostly in the expression shut one's clam)

   Why, he hasn't opened his clam since that morning in your room. I expected he would hold forth on every and all occasions.

   Jason wouldn't shut his clam about the invaders.

verb

1. 1

   To dig for clams.

noun

1. 1

   A crash or clangor made by ringing all the bells of a chime at once.

   By the bells standing too long in leading compass, the rest are thrown and jumbled together; whereby claps and clams so unpleasing to the hearers are occasion'd.

verb

1. 1

   To produce, in bellringing, a clam or clangor; to cause to clang.

   When they [bells] lie fifths thus 1 5 2 6 3 7 4 8, 'tis then most pleasant and excellent music to clam them; that is, the two notes of each concord to strike together, and if they be clam'd true the eight bells will strike like four, but with far greater musick and harmony.

adjective

1. 1

   obsoleteClammy.

   Ice is said to be clam, when beginning to melt with the sun or otherwise, and not easy to be slid upon.

noun

1. 1

   clamminess; moisture

   The clam of death.

verb

1. 1

   To be moist or glutinous; to stick; to adhere.

   A chilling sweat , a damp of jealousy, Hangs on my brows, and clams upon my limbs

2. 2

   To clog, as with glutinous or viscous matter.

   A whole Swarm of Wasps got into a Hony-pot, and there they Cloy'd and Clam'd themselves till there was no getting Out again.

noun

1. 1

   Variant of CLAMAlternative form of CLAM.

verb

1. 1

   Variant of clemAlternative form of clem (“to starve”).

Forms

plural

clams

comparative

clammer

superlative

clammest

past tense

clammed

past participle

clammed

present participle

clamming

third person singular

clams