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.
Quotation dates: 1773, 1865, 1932
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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.
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"Clamp v.3, n.3". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/clamp_v3_n3>
