from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Surf \Surf\, n. [Formerly spelled suffe, and probably the same
word as E. sough.]
The swell of the sea which breaks upon the shore, esp. upon a
sloping beach.
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{Surf bird} (Zool.), a ploverlike bird of the genus
{Aphriza}, allied to the turnstone.
{Surf clam} (Zool.), a large clam living on the open coast,
especially {Mactra solidissima} (syn. {Spisula
solidissima}). See {Mactra}.
{Surf duck} (Zool.), any one of several species of sea ducks
of the genus {Oidemia}, especially {Oidemia
percpicillata}; -- called also {surf scoter}. See the Note
under {Scoter}.
{Surf fish} (Zool.), any one of numerous species of
California embiotocoid fishes. See {Embiotocoid}.
{Surf smelt}. (Zool.) See {Smelt}.
{Surf whiting}. (Zool.) See under {Whiting}.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Clam \Clam\ (kl[a^]m), n. [Cf. {Clamp}, {Clam}, v. t.,
{Clammy}.]
1. (Zool.) A bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those
that are edible; as, the long clam ({Mya arenaria}), the
quahog or round clam ({Venus mercenaria}), the sea clam or
hen clam ({Spisula solidissima}), and other species of the
United States. The name is said to have been given
originally to the {Tridacna gigas}, a huge East Indian
bivalve.
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You shall scarce find any bay or shallow shore, or
cove of sand, where you may not take many clampes,
or lobsters, or both, at your pleasure. --Capt. John
Smith (1616).
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Clams, or clamps, is a shellfish not much unlike a
cockle; it lieth under the sand. --Wood (1634).
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2. (Ship Carp.) Strong pinchers or forceps.
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3. pl. (Mech.) A kind of vise, usually of wood.
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{Blood clam}. See under {Blood}.
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