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clam¹

(klăm)

a. Any of various usually burrowing marine and freshwater bivalve mollusks chiefly of the subclass Heterodonta, including members of the families Veneridae and Myidae, many of which are edible.

b. The soft edible body of such a mollusk.

2. Informal A close-mouthed person, especially one who can keep a secret.

3. Slang A dollar: owed them 75 clams.

intr.v. clammed, clam·ming, clams

To hunt for clams.

Phrasal Verb:

clam up Informal

To refuse to talk.

[From obsolete clam-shell, shell that clamps, clam, from CLAM².]

clammer n.

clam²

(klăm)

A clamp or vise.

[Middle English, from Old English clam, clamm, bond, fetter.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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