Moist clay or clayey mud; a sticky or pasty clay mixture used for sealing or building.
From Old English 'cleam' or 'clam,' related to 'clamp' (to press together). The word originally described any sticky substance that binds or holds together.
The word 'cleam' appears in old building contracts and wills—it was valuable enough to be tracked and measured, and disputes over cleam quality could actually end up in court!
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