Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CLAM, Claum, adj. Also found in n.Eng. dial. (E.D.D.).
1. Damp, clammy, moist, in gen. (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff.2 1940; Abd.13 1928; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Rxb. 1940 (per Lnk.11), claum).
†2. Of ice: moist, melting. Given by Watson in Rxb. W.-B. (1923) as obs.Sc. 1825 Jam.2:
Ice is said to be clam, or rather claum, when beginning to melt with the sun or otherwise, and not easy to be slid upon.
3. Sticky, adhesive, not smooth, applied to a boy's tacketty boots not yet worn smooth enough to allow him to skate (Slk. 1910).
[O.Sc. clamm, sticky, viscid, 1595 (D.O.S.T.); Mid.Eng. clam, sticky, glutinous (Stratmann); O.E. clǣman, to smear, clām, mud, paste (Sweet). Cf. Du. klam, clammy, damp, moist, Norw. klam, idem (Falk and Torp).]
