Past tense of clamber; climbed or moved awkwardly and with difficulty, using hands and feet.
From Middle English 'clambren' or 'clamber,' possibly related to 'climb' or 'clam' (to clog). The verb suggests ungainly, scrambling movement, and appears in English by the 16th century with its current meaning.
The word 'clamber' is wonderful because it captures the specific awkwardness of uncoordinated climbing—you 'clamber' over rocks, but you 'climb' stairs! This distinction between effort-based and graceful movement is preserved in British English more than American.
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