Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CLAMANT, adj. Urgent, calling for redress (Bnff.2, Abd.9, Ags.17, Fif.10, Slg.3 1940). [′klɑmənt]Sc. 1825 Jam.2:
This is a very clamant case.Sc. 1878 R. L. Stevenson Inland Voyage 195:
My appetite was a clamant, instant annoyance.Kcb. 1893 S. R. Crockett Stickit Minister 22:
Then in a little there came the clamant and definite bitterness of the “Fama Clamosa” — the moving of the Presbytery which had licensed and ordained him, by his ruling elder and one other of the congregation.
Hence †clamancy, “the urgency of any case, arising from necessity” (Sc. 1825 Jam.2).
[N.E.D. and Webster give as chiefly Sc. The sense of “urgent” seems to have been introduced into Eng. from Sc., see N.E.D. s.v. clamant, adj. 2.]
