clam
English
/klæm/, [kleəm]
noun
Definitions
- A bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those that are edible; for example the (Mya arenaria), the hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria), the sea clam or (), and other species. The name is said to have been given originally to the Tridacna gigas, a huge East Indian bivalve.
- Strong pincers or forceps.
- A kind of vise, usually of wood.
- (US) A dollar (usually used in the plural).
- (slang) A Scientologist.
- (slang) A vagina.
- (informal) One who clam clams up; a taciturn person, one who refuses to speak.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English clam (clamp, slimy, viscous, pincers, vice, sticky) inherited from Old English clamm (grasp, fetter, grip, bond) inherited from Proto-Germanic *klam (press, squeeze together).
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*klam
Gloss
press, squeeze together
Concept
Semantic Field
Basic actions and technology
Ontological Category
Action/Process
Emoji
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- bake English
- beclam English
- broth English
- clambake English
- clambroth English
- clamburger English
- clamdigger English
- clamdiggers English
- clamless English
- clamlike English
- clammer English
- clammish English
- clammishness English
- clammy English
- clamshell English
- digger English
- diggers English
- shell English
- *klam Proto-Germanic
- clamm Old English
- clǣman Old English
- clam Middle English