A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1507-1541, 1683
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0]
Clamschell, n. Also: clamb, clame, claim. [Of obscure origin. Earlier in use than Eng. clam.] A scallop shell; an imitation of this in silver. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 431.
Thow has thy clamschellis, and thy burdoun kelde a1508 Ib. 509.
Thy skryp, and thy clamschellis 1538 Treasurer's Accounts VII. 36.
Ane clame schel weyand j merk iiij uncis 1540 Ib. 326.
vj unces quarter unce silver to be ane clamschell to kepe the Kingis grace halk mete in 1541 Ib. VIII. 44.
For ane clamb schell of silver to put tuithe pulder in 1683 Coll. Aberd. & B. 100.
The claim shell, and the great black cockle
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Clamschell n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Apr 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/clamschell>
