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• clem
  clem

  verb (used with or without object)

  to starve.
• Clem
  Clem

  noun

  a male given name, form of Clement.

clem

¹ American  

[klem] / klɛm /

verb (used with or without object)

British Dialect.

clemmed, clemming

1. to starve.

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Clem ² American  

[klem] / klɛm /

noun

1. a male given name, form of Clement.

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clem British  

/ klɛm /

verb

1. dialect (when tr, usually passive) to be hungry or cause to be hungry

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Etymology

Origin of clem

1530–40; akin to Middle English forclemmed (past participle) pinched with hunger, Old English beclemman to fetter

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

clem Clem clemmed clemming

He wouldna be touchit; not whin he was clem would he be tempted awa'.

From Wisdom, Wit, and Pathos of Ouida Selected from the Works of Ouida by Ouida

And I've been a turn-out, and known what it were to clem; so if I get a shilling, sixpence shall go to them if they axe it from me.

From North and South by Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn

I clem up, rech up and got holt of that box and I was so heavy I pulled it down and broke all the old blue edge plates.

From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Arkansas Narratives, Part 3 by Work Projects Administration

Over the fence a gray-haired man Cautiously clim, clome, clem, clum, clamb.

From The Book of Humorous Verse by Wells, Carolyn

My conjecture was that clamor was clam, or, as it was usually spelt, clem, to press or restrain; and to this I still adhere.

From Notes and Queries, Number 191, June 25, 1853 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Bell, George

One Labour source joked, "there are rumours that they've brought an ouija board through the green baize door to consult Clem Atlee and Harold Wilson".

From BBC ● May 9, 2026

"All of our mission control rooms are all in this building," said Clem.

From Barron's ● Apr. 4, 2026

The responses include Sweetwater customers sending Clem photos of their home studios.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 24, 2026

“It’s 18, 20 bucks for, like, a hundred whistles,” Clem said, displaying a sandwich-size baggie of 100 multicolored whistles in the shape of small pencils.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 5, 2026

“See you later,” Clem says, and starts walking to the bookshelves.

From "Finding Langston" by Lesa Cline-Ransome

Poor maid—out i' the storm an' clemmed wi' cold an' 'unger, poor lass!

From Peregrine's Progress by Farnol, Jeffery

Why he'd a clemmed to death, if th' Union had na helped him in his pinch.

From North and South by Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn

I have heerd they're a pack of spiritless, down-trodden men; welly clemmed to death; too much dazed wi' clemming to know when they're put upon.

From North and South by Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn

Will you be clemmed, or will you be worried?'

From Mary Barton by Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn

"Folk do say one mustn't give clemmed people much to eat; but, bless us, she'll eat nought."

From Mary Barton by Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn

Father were stunned wi' the blow at first, for all Boucher were weak wi' passion and wi' clemming.

From North and South by Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn

I told you where a letter would find me; and here are you all clemming, and me know nought of it.

From Facing Death The Hero of the Vaughan Pit. A Tale of the Coal Mines by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)

It's made many of us keen for all our lives," he remarked, "all that clemming for education.

From The New Machiavelli by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)

Now clemming is a quiet death, and worrying isn't, so I choose clemming, and come into th' Union.

From Mary Barton by Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn

Yet not for his sake; for where'er he is, and whate'er, he'll ne'er know other clemming or cold again; but for the wife's sake, and the bits o' childer.'

From North and South by Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn