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Clam vs Claim - What's the difference?

clam | claim |

As nouns the difference between clam and claim

is that clam is a bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those that are edible; as, the long clam (species: Mya arenaria), the quahog or round clam (Venus mercenaria), the sea clam or hen clam (species: Spisula solidissima), and other species of the United States. The name is said to have been given originally to the species: Tridacna gigas, a huge East Indian bivalve while claim is a demand of ownership made for something (e.g. claim ownership, claim victory).

As verbs the difference between clam and claim

is that clam is to dig for clams while claim is to demand ownership of.

clam

English

(wikipedia clam)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • A bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those that are edible; as, the long clam (, a huge East Indian bivalve.
  • * , chapter=3
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams' thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out. ' Clams was fairly scarce over that side of the bay and ought to fetch a fair price.}}
  • Strong pincers or forceps.
  • A kind of vise, usually of wood.
  • (US, slang) A dollar (usually used in the plural). Possibly originating from the term wampum.
  • (slang, derogatory) A Scientologist.
  • * {{quote-newsgroup, year=1998, date=23 February, author=
    • jesparolini, title=CO$ Celebrities: USEFUL IDIOTS citation

    Verb

    (clamm)
  • To dig for clams.

    • Derived terms

    * American jackknife clam * Atlantic jackknife clam * bamboo clam * clam chowder * clamshell * clam up * giant clam * piss clam * razor clam

    See also

    * clammy

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A crash or clangor made by ringing all the bells of a chime at once.
    • (Nares)

    Verb

    (clamm)
  • To produce, in bellringing, a clam or clangor; to cause to clang.
    • (Nares)

    Etymology 3

    Noun

  • clamminess; moisture
  • * Carlyle
    • The clam of death.

    Verb

    (clamm)
  • To be moist or glutinous; to stick; to adhere.
    • (Dryden)
  • To clog, as with glutinous or viscous matter.
  • * L'Estrange
    • A swarm of wasps got into a honey pot, and there they cloyed and clammed themselves till there was no getting out again.
    (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    * ----

    claim

    English

    Alternative forms

    * claym (obsolete)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A demand of ownership made for something (e.g. claim ownership, claim victory).
  • A new statement of truth made about something, usually when the statement has yet to be verified.
  • A demand of ownership for previously unowned land (e.g. in the gold rush, oil rush)
  • (legal) A legal demand for compensation or damages.

    • Usage notes

    * Demand ownership of land not previously owned. One usually stakes a claim. * The legal sense. One usually makes a claim. See

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To demand ownership of.
  • To state a new fact, typically without providing evidence to prove it is true.
  • To demand ownership or right to use for land.
  • (legal) To demand compensation or damages through the courts.
  • To be entitled to anything; to deduce a right or title; to have a claim.
  • * John Locke
    • We must know how the first ruler, from whom anyone claims , came by his authority.
  • To proclaim.
    • (Spenser)
  • To call or name.
    • (Spenser)

    Related terms

    * claimable * claimant * claimer * disclaim * disclaimer

    External links

    * *

    Anagrams

    * English reporting verbs ----