Clam

n. [See CLAMP.] 1. (Conch.) A bivalve shell-fish of different genera, as the Venus mercenaria, or round clam of North America, the Mya arenaria, or long clam, and others. S. F. Baird.

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 shell-fish not much unlike a cockle; It lieth under the sand. These fishes be in great plenty. Wood, 1684.

Clam, or clamp, a kind of shell-fish, a white muscle. Josselyn, 1672.

2Sense 2. (pl.) (Ship Carp.) Strong pincers for drawing nails.

3Sense 3. (pl.) (Mech.) A kind of vise, usually made of wood.

[imp. & p. p. CLAMMED; p. pr. & vb. n. CLAMMING.] [Prov. Eng. cleam, A-S. clemian, to clam, smear, Icel. kleima, to smear, O. H. Ger. kleimen, chleimen, to defile.] 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.

n. [An abbreviation of clamor.] A crash or clangor of discordant sounds made in ringing a chime of bells, by pulling all the bells at once, by way of concluding the chime. Nares.

To produce, in bell ringing, a clam or clamor. Nares.