Clam

Pronunciation

• IPA: /klæm/
• Rhymes: -æm

From Middle English clam ("pincers, vice, clamp"), from Old English clamm ("bond, fetter, grip, grasp").

Full definition of clam

Noun

1. A bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those that are edible; as, the long clam (), the quahog or round clam (Venus mercenaria), the sea clam or hen clam (), and other species of the United States. The name is said to have been given originally to the , a huge East Indian bivalve.
• 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, Mr. Pratt's Patients Chapter 3, 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.
2. Strong pincers or forceps.
3. A kind of vise, usually of wood.
4. (US, slang) A dollar (usually used in the plural). Possibly originating from the term wampum.
   Those sneakers cost me fifty clams!
5. (slang, derogatory) A Scientologist.
• 1998, 23 February, jesparolini, CO$ Celebrities: USEFUL IDIOTS, So the clams have John Travolta, Tom Cruise, et al in their hot li'l ol'P-R hands

Verb

1. To dig for clams.

Derived terms

Noun

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

Verb

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

Noun