Clam
/klæm/noun
A bivalve mollusk, or a person who is notably quiet or reticent.
Did you know?The shellfish sense is first recorded in English in the seventeenth century, but its exact origin remains uncertain; the “quiet person” sense developed later from the idea of being closed or uncommunicative.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
Old English
clamm
“A bond, fetter, or something that holds fast; the source of the later “to shut” sense.”
Middle English
Middle English
clam
“A fastening, bond, or grasping restraint; related verbal senses involved holding or closing.”
16th Century
English
clam
“To stick, adhere, or close tightly; the verb developed alongside related forms such as “clamp.””
17th Century
English
clam
“A shellfish or bivalve mollusk; this noun’s ultimate origin is uncertain and may reflect a Scandinavian or Germanic source.”
18th Century
English
clam
“A silent or reticent person, metaphorically someone who keeps shut like a clam.”