Forms: 4–5 cleym(e, 4–7 claym(e, 6–7 claime, (Sc.) clame, 4, 7– claim. [a. OF. claime (clame), f. clamer to CLAIM.]
1. A demand for something as due; an assertion of a right to something. (Const. as in 2.) To lay claim to: to assert one’s right to, claim.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9304. Sum o þaim Again mi sagh sal sett claim [Trin. cleym].
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 250. His claime is unanswerde.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 80. Cleyme or chalaunge, vendicacio.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xxxiv. 48. Ther was clayme and answer made bytwene parties … and right and iudgement gyuen.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 230. To make a clayme to the Crowne of Fraunce.
1584. Powel, Lloyd’s Cambria, 243. His claime on Jerusalem.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., III. ii. 84. What claime laies she to thee?
1748. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 314. Persons are not to be their own judges in claims of justice.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), I. 34. Advancing no higher claim.
1858. Ld. St. Leonards, Handy Bk. Prop. Law, xxiii. 177. Constant claims are set up to the estates of other men by … crafty persons.
1863. H. Cox, Instit., I. viii. 107. Give notice annually, requiring all persons claiming to vote in respect of lands in that parish, to send in their claims within a time limited.
2. Right of claiming; right or title (to something or to have, be, or do something; also on, upon the person, etc., that the thing is claimed from).
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 196. And whilk of vs is doun, & mad is recreant, Cleyme & accioun he lese.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XX. 48. And all the clame that thai mycht haff In-till scotland.
1491. Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 20 § 7. All such right, title, interesse, clayme … as they … have in any of the premisses.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T., 29 b. There is no better clayme vnto wealth, then by the conquest of a strong hand to compasse it.
1752. Johnson, Rambler, No. 197, ¶ 8. Success gave a claim to kindness.
1769. Junius Lett., xii. 54. Your friends … have the first claim upon your bounty.
1772. Pennant, Tours Scot. (1774), 33. Has the fairest claim to call itself owner.
1796. Jane Austen, Sense & Sens. (1849), 9. What possible claim could the Miss Dashwoods … have on his generosity?
1869. J. Martineau, Ess., II. 139. The attempt has every claim to an indulgent and grateful reception.
3. That which is claimed; spec. in U.S. and Australia, a piece of land allotted and taken, esp. for mining purposes.
1863. Fawcett, Pol. Econ., III. vi. 364. The claim, upon which he [the Australian gold-digger] purchases permission to dig.
1872. R. B. Smyth, Mining Statist., 46. In some of the claims to the south the reef is worked with good profit.
1879. Atcherley, Trip Boërland, 122. In the cooler hours I would be working in the claim.
† 4. A call, shout. Obs. rare.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. x. 11. I cald, but no man answer’d to my clame.
