A clam digger is New England slang for someone who was on their knees digging for dinner!
The word's meaning gets changed a bit, but in New England, this slang started in the 1950's and was used to insult a person of low class. A CLAM DIGGER is even worse than a CLAM BAKER- (the person who cooks the clams after they go digging)
The word's meaning gets changed a bit, but in New England, this slang started in the 1950's and was used to insult a person of low class. A CLAM DIGGER is even worse than a CLAM BAKER- (the person who cooks the clams after they go digging)
by Melissa Kelly OKeefe February 3, 2026
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