Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†CLEM, CLAM, Klem, adj.
1. “Mean, low, scurvy; as, a clem man, a paltry fellow” (Lth. 1825 Jam.2). “This is a very common school-term in Edinburgh” (Ib., clam); “not trustworthy, unprincipled” (Rxb. Ib.; 1923 Watson W.-B. obs.).Sc. [1814] Scott Waverley (1829) App. to Preface, No. III.:
He reprobated the idea of being an informer, which he said was clam.
2. “Imperfect, badly done, not of much worth; applied to work and things” (Ayr. 1880 Jam.5, klem).
3. “Used by the High-School boys of Edinburgh in the sense of curious, singular; a clemfellow, a queer fish” (Edb. 1825 Jam.2).
[Not in O.Sc. Jam. considers that the word, since it is properly a school-boy term, may be Lat. clam, secret, unseen. Cf., however, obs. Eng. clam, grasping, pinching, and dial. Eng. clem, to pinch (see N.E.D.), of same origin as Clam, v., q.v.]
