▪ I. cloam, n. Obs. exc. s.w. dial.
(kləʊm)
Forms: 1 clám, [5 clome, 7 cloame, in the verb], 8 cloume, 7–9 clome, 9 (clomb), cloam; see also cloom.
[OE. clám mud, clay, corresp. to MDu. cleem clay, potter's clay:—WGer. *klaim, a derivative, with -m suffix, of klī̆- to daub, smear (root of clay); cf. ON. kleima, OHG. chleimen, MDu. clêmen to daub, besmear.]
In O.E. Mud, clay. Hence, in mod. dial. use: Earthenware, clay.
| c 1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 84 Wyrc swa [the ingredients] to clame. c 1000 ælfric Exod. i. 14 Mid heardum weorcum clames and tiᵹelan. 1659 C. Clobery Div. Glimpses 95 Season thy new-made clome with sipid liquor. 1746 Exmoor Scolding (E.D.S.) 52. a 1819 Wolcott (P. Pindar) Poems Wks. 159 (D.) Now, zester Nan, by this yow zee..What's cheny thoft is clome. 1865 R. Hunt Pop. Romances W. Eng. Ser. i. 96 A set of cheene [china] and lots of beautiful clome. 1881 Blackmore Christowell iv, He spied..certain letters, invisible until the cloam was wetted. |
b. attrib. or adj.
| 1750 R. Pococke Trav. (Cornw.) (1888) 135 Cloume ovens..are earthen ware of several sizes, like an oven, and being heated they stop 'em up and cover 'em over with embers to keep in the heat. 1827 Hone Every-day Bk. II. 1652 Earthenware shops..are called..clome or clomen shops..in Devon. 1861 H. Kingsley Ravenshoe i. (D.), That should depend on the pitcher, whether it were iron or clomb. |
▪ II. † cloam, v. Obs.
In 5 clome, 7 cloame.
[f. prec. n.]
trans. To daub or plaster with clay.
| c 1460 Play Sacram. 708 W{supt} Clay I clome yt vppe ryght fast. 1658 Evelyn Fr. Gard. (1675) 81 You must cloame the heads of the wounded branches. |