clam

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 biva

• 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

A type of strong pincers or forceps.historicalin-plural

A kind of vise, usually of wood.

A dollar.USin-pluralslang

• Those sneakers cost me fifty clams!

A Scientologist.derogatoryslang

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

A vagina or vulva.slangvulgar

A wrong or misplaced note.slang

• You had too many fucking days off, and you think this is a game? You think I'm the only one that's going to work up there while you motherfuckers sit out there and clam all over this fucking joint? What do you think this is anyhow? What kin

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

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

• 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.

To dig for clams.

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.

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 wi

Clammy.obsolete

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

clamminess; moisture

• The clam of death.

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

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.

Alternative form of CLAM.alt-ofalternative

Alternative form of clem (“to starve”).alt-ofalternative