Forms: 5–7 clambre, 5–6 clamer, 6–7 clammer, 4– clamber. [In 15th c. clambre-n, clamer-en. This appears to be a derivative of CLIMB v. (pa. t., ME. clamb, clam); an equivalent CLIMBER was in use in 16–17th c. Cf. the relation of wander to wend, wind, of spatter, sputter, to spit, etc. The general 16–17th c. form clammer also associates itself with climb with silent b. It can hardly be connected (in English) with CLAMBER v.1, though they prob. go back in different ways to the same source: see note to CLAM sb.1 In German, klammer, ‘clam, clamp, hold-fast,’ etc., had formerly the sense ‘clutch, claw’; thence a derivative vb. ‘to clutch, seize with claws’ comes naturally; sich klammern is actually used in the sense ‘hook oneself on, cling firmly’; clammer or clamber up = ‘get up by catching hold with claws’ would be a natural extension. But links are wanting: klammer ‘claw’ is only MHG., clamber up only English, and known only since 15th c.]
1. intr. To climb by catching hold with hands and feet; to creep or crawl up (or down); to climb with difficulty and effort.
c. 1430. Bk. Hawkyng, in Rel. Ant., I. 299. When he [the young hawk] begynneth to clambre upon bowys use hym ever more to hackyng.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 79. Clameryn [1499 or crepyn], repto.
1530. Palsgr., 485/2. I clamer or clymme up upon a tree or any suche thyng, je grippe.
1591. Harington, Orl. Fur., XIX. xx. (R.). He clamer’d up upon the shepheards horse.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., II. v. 31. When you heare the drum … Clamber not you vp to the casements then.
1598. Florio, Aggrappare … to clime, to clammer. Ibid. (1611), Franáre, to clammer vp any slippery or broken place.
1631. Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 45. He was clammering ouer a wall.
1707. Farquhar, Beaux’ Strat., II. i. Leaping of Ditches, and clambring over Stiles.
1835. W. Irving, Tour Prairies, 293. He clambered into a tree.
1882. Miss Braddon, Mt. Royal, III. i. 14. It’s a dangerous kind of place for a stranger to go clambering about with a gun.
b. trans.; cf. CLIMB.
1598. Grenewey, Tacitus’ Ann., II. iv. (1622), 38. Some cowardly fleeing away, sought to clamber the tops of trees.
1607. Shaks., Cor., II. i. 225. The Kitchin Malkin … Clambring the Walls to eye him.
1775. Johnson, Western Isl., Wks. X. 418. They can … clamber the mountain.
1807–8. W. Irving, Salmag. (1824), 134. Worthy hodmen, clambering a ladder.
2. intr. Of plants: To climb by means of tendrils, etc. (Also trans. as in 1 b.)
1601. Holland, Pliny, XIX. v. (R.). Gladly they [cucumbers] would be clambering upon walls, and climbing up to the house roof, if they can meet with any rough places to take hold by.
1864. D. Mitchell, Sev. Stor., 302. Vines clambered over the window.
1887. Fenn, This Man’s Wife, I. II. vi. 215. This was clambered, surmounted, and almost completely hidden by clusters of small blossoms.
3. fig. To climb or struggle (up) into a position of eminence; to attain with effort to.
1576. Fleming, Panoplie Ep., 193. Thou knowest by what craftie collusion he hath clammered up to the throne of tyrannie.
a. 1591. H. Smith, Wks. (1867), II. 88. Some clamber to heaven by merits, some by angels, some by penance, and some by pardons.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., 438. His [the Pope’s] clambering into Imperial Power.
4. transf. Of a building, or anything rising in the air: To rise or ascend heavily, irregularly, or steeply, as if ‘struggling upward.’
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XIII. 561. Jove … will unbuild your towr’s that clamber so, For ravishing my goods, and wife.
1852. Hawthorne, Wonder-bk., Chimæra (1879), 211. Three spires of black smoke … clambered sullenly into the atmosphere. Ibid. (1858), Fr. & It. Jrnls. (1872), II. 164. A tall palace of gray, time-worn stone clambered skyward.
1864. Tennyson, Enoch Arden, 60. Halfway up The narrow street that clamber’d toward the mill.
Clamber v.3 var. form of CLAMOUR v.2
