Dictionary:

clam¹

  (klăm)

1. 1. Any of various usually burrowing marine and freshwater bivalve mollusks of the class Pelecypoda, including members of the genera Venus and Mya, many of which are edible.
   2. The soft edible body of such a mollusk.
2. Informal. A close-mouthed person, especially one who can keep a secret.
3. Slang. A dollar: set me back 75 clams.

To hunt for clams.

clam up Informal.

1. To refuse to talk.

[From obsolete clam-shell, shell that clamps, clam, from CLAM².]

A clamp or vise.

[Middle English, from Old English clam, clamm, bond, fetter.]

Several types of marine bivalve molluscs, including scallop, large tropical clam, Tridacna gigas, quahog, Mya arenaria, and Venus mercenaria. A 100-g portion of clams is an exceptionally rich source of vitamin B₁₂; a good source of protein and niacin; contains 120 mg of sodium; supplies 60 kcal (250 kJ).

American Indians used parts of the shell from these bivalve mollusks to make wampum-beads used for barter, ornamental, ceremonial and spiritual purposes. The two main varieties of clams are hard-shell and soft-shell. The hard-shell clams found on the East Coast (where they're also called by the Indian name, quahog) come in three sizes. The smallest are littleneck clams, which have a shell diameter less than 2 inches. Next comes the medium-size cherrystone clam, about 21⁄2 inches across. The largest of this trio is the chowder clam (also called simply "large" clam), with a shell diameter of at least 3 inches. Among the West Coast hard-shell varieties are the pacific littleneck clam, the pismo and the small, sweet butter clams from Puget Sound. soft-shell clams, also called soft clams, actually have thin, brittle shells. They can't completely close their shells because of a long, rubbery neck (or siphon) that extends beyond its edge. The most common East Coast soft-shell is the steamer clam. The most famous West Cost soft-shells are the razor clam (so named because its shell resembles a folded, old-fashioned straight razor) and the geoduck clam (pronounced goo-ee-duck). The geoduck is a comical-looking, 6-inch-long clam with a neck that can reach up to about 11⁄2 feet long. On the East Coast and in the Pacific Northwest, clams are available year-round. In California, the season is November through April. Clams are sold live in the shell, fresh or frozen shucked, and canned. When buying hard-shell clams in the shell, make sure the shells are tightly closed. If a shell is slightly open, tap it lightly. If it doesn't snap shut, the clam is dead and should be discarded. To test a soft-shell clam, lightly touch its neck; if it moves, it's alive. The guideline for buying shucked clams is plumpness and clear liquid. Store live clams up to 2 days in a 40°F refrigerator; refrigerate shucked clams up to 4 days. Clams can be cooked in a variety of ways, including steaming and baking. All clams should be cooked gently to prevent toughening. Clams are high in protein and contain fair amounts of calcium and iron. See also shellfish.

Idioms beginning with clam:
clamp down on
clam up

In addition to the idiom beginning with clam, also see happy as the day is long (as a clam).

(click to enlarge)
(Left) Quahog (Mercenaria); (right) soft-shell clam (Mya) (credit: Russ Kinne — Photo Researchers)

In general, any bivalve mollusk. True clams, in the strict sense, have equal shells, closed by two opposing muscles, and a powerful, muscular, burrowing foot. They usually lie buried in the sand in shallow marine waters. Clams draw in and expel water for respiration and feeding through two tubes, the siphons. Species range in size from 0.004 in. to 4 ft (0.1 mm – 1.2 m) across. Many species are edible, including the coquina clam, geoduck, quahog, and soft-shell clam.

For more information on clam, visit Britannica.com.

The bucket of a clamshell.

There are a large number of clams; one which is cultivated commercially is venerupis japonica.

Littleneck clams; the pictured molluscs are of the species Mercenaria mercenaria.

Maxima clam (Tridacna maxima).

Moche Clam. 200 A.D. Larco Museum Collection Lima, Peru.

A clam is a kind of mollusc that has a shell divided into two pieces called valves, in other words, a clam is a bivalve mollusc.

The word "clam" has no real taxonomic significance in biology. However in the USA the word can sometimes be used to mean any bivalve mollusc. It can also be used to mean a bivalve other than an oyster, mussel, or scallop, and that has a more-or-less oval shape, or a freshwater mussel (Merriam-Webster Dictionary.). The word clam is also often used to mean any one of many edible bivalve species which live buried in sand, hence, "digging for clams or clam digging.

Not all edible clams are round or oval in shape: the razor clam has an elongated shell whose shape suggests a straight razor.

Anatomy

A clam's two shells or valves are connected by a hinge joint and a ligament that can be external or internal. Two adductor muscles close the shells. The clam has no head, and usually has no eyes (scallops are a notable exception), but a clam does have kidneys, a heart, a mouth, and an anus.

Clams, like most molluscs, also have open circulatory systems, which means that their organs are surrounded by watery blood that contains nutrients and oxygen. Clams eat plankton, and they themselves are eaten by small sharks and squid.

In culinary use, the term "clam" most often refers to the hard clam (Taxonomically, Mercenaria mercenaria) but it may refer to several other species such as the soft-shell clam Mya arenaria. Clams can be eaten raw, steamed, boiled, baked or fried; the method of preparation depends partly on size and species. Clam chowder is a popular soup in the U.S. and Canada. In Italy, clams are often an ingredient of mixed seafood dishes, or are eaten together with pasta.

The Maxima clam Tridacna maxima, a species of giant clam, is popular with saltwater aquarium hobbyists.

The Moche people of ancient Peru worshipped the sea and its animals. They often depicted clams in their art. ^[1]

Examples of clams

• The ark clams, family Arcidae
• The nut clams, family Nuculidae
• The pointed nut clams, family Nuculanidae
• The duck clams or trough shells, family Mactridae
• The marsh clams, family Corbiculidaess
• The file clams, family Limidae
• The hard clam or Northern Quahog: Mercenaria mercenaria
• The Soft clam: Mya arenaria
• The surf clam: Spisula solidissima
• The ocean quahog: Arctica islandica
• The Pacific razor clam: Siliqua patula
• The giant clam: Tridacna gigas
• Chink or Asiatic clam: genus Corbicula
• Peppery furrow shell: Scrobicularia plana
• Pismo clam: Tivela stultorum (8 inch shell on display in the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce)
• Geoduck clam: Panopea abrupta or Panope generosa (largest burrowing clam in the world)
• The Atlantic jackknife clam: Ensis directus

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Bivalvia

• Clam bake
• Clam boil

References

1. ^ Berrin, Katherine & Larco Museum. The Spirit of Ancient Peru:Treasures from the Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1997.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
1.
n. - musling, tavs person, bommert
v. intr. - klappe i, være tavs, samle muslinger

2.
n. - dollar

Nederlands (Dutch)
tweekleppig schelpdier, oester, teruggetrokken persoon, strandgapers zoeken

Français (French)
1.
n. - palourde
v. intr. - aller à la pêche aux palourdes

idioms:

• clam up    ne plus piper mot (à qn)

2.
n. - (US) dollar (arch)

Deutsch (German)
1.
n. - (zool) zweischalige eßbare Muschel
v. - Muscheln suchen, den Mund nicht (mehr) aufmachen

idioms:

• clam up    verstummen

2.
n. - (USA) (infor) ein Dollar

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ζωολ.) οστρακοειδές, δίθυρο μαλάκιο (κτένι, μύδι, στρείδι κ.λπ.), (μτφ.) ντροπαλός, κλειστός τύπος
v. - συλλέγω οστρακοειδή, (μτφ.) σωπαίνω, κλείνω το στόμα μου

Italiano (Italian)
ostrica, appiccicarsi

Português (Portuguese)
n. - molusco (m) (Zool.), viscosidade (f), indivíduo (m) taciturno, dólar (m) (gír.) (EUA)
v. - colher mariscos

Русский (Russian)
моллюск, замкнутый человек, собирать моллюсков

Español (Spanish)
1.
n. - almeja, grapa
v. intr. - pescar almejas, callarse como un muerto

idioms:

• clam up    llamarse a silencio

2.
n. - sonido simultáneo de dos o más campanas

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - ätlig mussla, tillknäppt person (vard.), dollar (am. sl.)
v. - samla musslor

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
1. 蛤, 蚌, 蛤蜊, 沉默寡言的人, 守口如瓶的人, 蛤肉, 蛤式抓斗, 拾蛤, 挖蛤, 捞蛤, 保持沉默, 闭嘴不言

2. 钳, 夹具, 夹子, 钳子

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
1.
n. - 蛤, 蚌, 蛤蜊, 沈默寡言的人, 守口如瓶的人, 蛤肉, 蛤式抓鬥
v. intr. - 拾蛤, 挖蛤, 撈蛤, 保持沈默, 閉嘴不言

2.
n. - 鉗, 夾具, 夾子, 鉗子

한국어 (Korean)
1.
n. - 대합조개, 꺽쇠, 잘못, 1 달러
v. intr. - 대합조개를 잡다

2.
n. - 가락이 안 맞는 음

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - ハマグリ, 二枚貝, 無口な人, 蛤
v. - ハマグリを採る

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) نوع من السمك الصدفي (فعل) يسكت‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮צדפה‬
v. intr. - ‮אסף צדפות‬
n. - ‮שתקן, נחבא אל הכלים‬

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