Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CLAMP, Klamp, v.3, n.3 Now only dial. in Eng. (E.D.D.).
1. v. Cf. Clamper, v.1, and Clomph.
(1) intr. To make a noise with the shoes in walking, especially when the shoes are studded with nails or when wearing clogs (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Ork. 1929 Marw., klamp; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 135; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); to walk heavily, to clump. Known to Bnff.2, Abd.2, Fif.10, Slg.3, Lnk.11, Kcb.1 1940.Abd. 1865 G. Macdonald Alec Forbes III. iv.:
They war shoonless feet gaed oot and in, Nor clampit as they gaed.Slg. 1932 W. D. Cocker Poems 95:
Aye clampin' ower my clean fire-side, The clarty-fitted plooman.
(2) tr. “To crowd things together, as pieces of wooden furniture, with a noise” (Dmf. 1825 Jam.2); “to lay, put, or cast (a thing) down noisily” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Known to Slg.3 1940.
2. n. “A heavy footstep or tread” (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Cai.8 1934; Bnff.2, Abd.9 1940); the sound of such (Ork. 1929 Marw., klamp). Cf. Clump, n., 2.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Sc. Poems (1925) 49:
Broags, whilk on my body tramp, And wound like death at ilka clamp.
