clam

¹clam

noun \ˈklam\

Definition of CLAM

: clamp, clasp

Origin of CLAM

Middle English, from Old English clamm bond, fetter; akin to Old High German klamma constriction and perhaps to Latin glomus ball

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Hardware Terms

adze, auger, awl, chock, ferrule, punch, tang

Rhymes with CLAM

bam, cam, cram, dam, damn, drachm, dram, DRAM, flam, gam, gram, ham, Ham, jam, jamb, lam, lamb, ma'am, pram, ram, RAM, Sam, SAM, scam, scram, sham, slam, spam, tam, tram, wham, yam

²clam

noun, often attributive

Definition of CLAM

1

a : any of numerous edible marine bivalve mollusks living in sand or mud

b : a freshwater mussel

2

: a stolid or closemouthed person

3

: clamshell

4

: dollar 3

Illustration of CLAM

Origin of CLAM

¹clam; from the clamping action of the shells

First Known Use: circa 1520

Other Invertebrates (Except Insects) Terms

anemone, cephalopod, quahog

³clam

intransitive verb

clammedclam·ming

Definition of CLAM

: to gather clams especially by digging

— clam·mer \ˈkla-mər\ noun

First Known Use of CLAM

1636

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

chum, covert, creel, flense, pitfall, seine, skulk, spoor, trawl

clam

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

(Left) Quahog (Mercenaria); (right) soft-shell clam (Mya)—Russ Kinne—Photo Researchers

In general, any bivalve mollusk. True clams, in the strict sense, have equal shells, closed by two opposing muscles, and a powerful, muscular, burrowing foot. They usually lie buried in the sand in shallow marine waters. Clams draw in and expel water for respiration and feeding through two tubes, the siphons. Species range in size from 0.004 in. to 4 ft (0.1 mm–1.2 m) across. Many species are edible, including the coquina clam, geoduck, quahog, and soft-shell clam.