Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 2.pdf/126

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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.