Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CLAMP, n.¹, v.¹ Also found in Eng. dial. (E.D.D.).

1. n. A small stack of peats or turf; “a potato pit” (Ags.¹⁷ 1938; Fif.¹ 1940). Known to Bnff.², Abd.², Slg.³ 1940. N.E.D., Concise, and Un. Eng. Dicts. enter as Eng., but Webster as chiefly dial.Eng. Given in E.D.D. for Ir. and Gall.sm.Sc. 1988 W. A. D. and D. Riach A Galloway Glossary :
clamp, clump an uncovered pile of potatoes.Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.:
When turfs or peats are “put out,” they are left for some time to dry. . . . After some time these . . . are put into “clamps,” in which they remain until they are sufficiently dry to be removed from the bog.

Comb.: clamp-kiln, a kiln for burning lime-stone, “built round, or oblong, with sods and earth” (Clc. 1795 J. F. Erskine Gen. View Agric. Clc. 36, Footnote).Ib.:
The farmers generally prefer bringing up the [lime] stones, and burning them in clamp-kilns, on, or near those fields that they intend to lime.

2. v. “To pile up turf; to heap up potatoes or turnips in a mound” (Sc. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.).