Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1814
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†CLEM, CLAM, Klem, adj.
1. “Mean, low, scurvy; as, a clem man, a paltry fellow” (Lth. 1825 Jam.2). “This is a very common school-term in Edinburgh” (Ib., clam); “not trustworthy, unprincipled” (Rxb. Ib.; 1923 Watson W.-B. obs.).Sc. [1814] Scott Waverley (1829) App. to Preface, No. III.:
He reprobated the idea of being an informer, which he said was clam.
2. “Imperfect, badly done, not of much worth; applied to work and things” (Ayr. 1880 Jam.5, klem).
3. “Used by the High-School boys of Edinburgh in the sense of curious, singular; a clemfellow, a queer fish” (Edb. 1825 Jam.2).
[Not in O.Sc. Jam. considers that the word, since it is properly a school-boy term, may be Lat. clam, secret, unseen. Cf., however, obs. Eng. clam, grasping, pinching, and dial. Eng. clem, to pinch (see N.E.D.), of same origin as Clam, v., q.v.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Clem adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/clem_adj>
