Heading
1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macmillan's Mag., XL., 501. So I claimed (stole) them.
To jump a claim, phr. (American and colonial).—To take forcible possession; to defraud; specifically to seize land which has been taken up and occupied by another settler, or squatter. The first occupant is, by squatter law and custom, entitled to the first claim on the land.—See Jump.
1846. E. H. Smith, Hist. of Black Hawk. When I hunted claims, I went far and near, Resolved from all others to keep myself clear; And if, through mistake, I jumped a man's claim, As soon as I knew it I jumped off again.
18(?). F. Marryat, Mountains and Molehills, p. 217. If a man jumped my claim, and encroached on my boundaries, and I didn't knock him on the head with a pickaxe, I appealed to the crowd, and, my claim being carefully measured and found correct, the jumper would be ordered to confine himself to his own territory.
1883. R. L. Stevenson, The Silverado Squatters, p. 221. The claim was jumped; a track of mountain-side, fifteen hundred feet long by six hundred wide . . . had passed from Ronalds to Hanson, and in the passage changed its name from the 'Mammoth' to the 'Calistoga.'
Clam, subs. (American).—1. A
blockhead. Anglicé, 'as stupid as
an oyster.' Shakspeare (Much
Ado About Nothing, ii. 3) has
'Love may transform me to an
oyster; but I'll take my oath on
it, till he hath made an oyster of
me, he shall never make me such
a fool.'—See Chowder-headed;
chowder is a favourite form of
serving clams.
1871. S. L. Clemens ('Mark Twain'), Sketches, I., 46. A fine stroke of sarcasm, that, but it will be lost on such an intellectual clam as you.
2. The mouth or lips. Also clam-shell. 'Shut your clam-shell' = 'Shut your mouth.' The padlock now used on the United States mail-bags is called the 'Clam-shell padlock.' For synonyms, see Potato-trap.
1825. J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, I., 143. Shet your clam, our David.
1848. J. R. Lowell, Biglow Papers, II., p. 19. You don't feel much like speakin', When if you let your clam-shells gape, a quart of tar will leak in.
1848. Bartlett, Dict. Americanisms. Shut up your clam-shells. Close your lips together; be silent. Common along the shores of Connecticut and Rhode Island, where clams abound. Same as 'shut your head.'
Clam-Butcher, subs. (American).—A
man who opens clams; the
attendant at an oyster bar is
an 'oyster-butcher.'
Clank, subs. (thieves').—A pewter
tankard; formerly a silver one.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue Clank: a silver tankard.
1837. Disraeli, Venetia, ch. xiv. Tip me the clank like a dimber mort as you are.
Clanker, subs. (old).—1, A great
lie.—Grose. Cf., Clinker. For
synonyms, see Whopper.
2. (old).—Silver plate. Cf., Clank.
Clank Napper, subs. (old).—A
thief whose speciality is silver-*plate.
[From clank, subs. +
napper (q.v.), a thief.] For
synonyms, see Thieves.
Clap (or Clapper), subs. (common).—1.
The tongue. [From
clap = chatter; a babbler's tongue
is said to be hung in the middle,
and to sound with both ends.]
For synonyms, see Clack.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 72. [dh]eone Ru[th]en heo neuere astunten hore cleppe.
