Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “clam” come from?

Clam derives from Middle English clam, from Old English clǣman, from Old English climban, from Proto-Germanic klimbaną, from Proto-Indo-European gleybʰ-, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European gel-.

clam (English): A bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those...

Definitions

  1. A bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those...

Ancestry of “clam”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishclampincers, vice, clamp; viscous, sticky; slimy
2Old Englishclāmclay, mud; paste, mortar, mud, clay, poultice
3Proto-West Germanic*klaim—
4Proto-Germanicklaimazclay, mortar
5Proto-Indo-Europeangleh₁y-to smear, putty; to stick, glue
6Proto-Indo-Europeangleh₁-ball, lump
7Proto-Indo-Europeangewl-vessel; ball; vessel, bowl, ball; ball, bowl,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeangēw-to bend, arch

Words derived from “clam”

  • clamshell
  • clambake
  • clammer
  • clamdigger
  • clamlike
  • clamdiggers
  • cloom
  • clammish
  • clamburger
  • clammishness
  • clamless
  • clambroth
  • beclam
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gēw- →