Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CLEM, Klem, Clam, Clim, v. The form clam however may correspond to the Eng. alternative form, now only dial., clam, with the same meanings. Pa.t. clam after strong verbs. [klɛm, klɑm, klɪm]

1. tr. “To stop a hole by means of lime, clay, or by using any viscid substance; also to clem up” (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Cai.⁷ 1937, clim up, obsol.). Also found in Eng. dial. (E.D.D.).Mearns 1819 J. Burness Plays, Poems, etc. 283:
They clam an' patch up a' the bores, For to keep out the drift.

2. intr. Of a soft, sticky mass: to adhere, stick.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
De snaw klems (is klemd) to de feet, upo de face; . . . my tongue is klemin to my mooth wi' trist.Lth. 1921 A. Dodds Antrin Sangs 54: 
The awfu' words clam tae his mooth, As gif the palsy tied him.