I. ˈklam noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English clamm bond, fetter; akin to Old High German klamma constriction and perhaps to Latin glomus ball
Date: before 12th century
: clamp , clasp
II. noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: clam (I); from the clamping action of the shells
Date: circa 1520
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
[
clam 1a: a incurrent orifice, b siphon, c excurrent orifice, d mantle, e shell, f foot
]
III. intransitive verb
( clammed ; clam·ming )
Date: 1636
: to gather clams especially by digging
• clam·mer ˈkla-mər noun