Clemson

English

Etymology 1

From a short form of the personal name Clement +‎ -son.

Proper noun

Clemson (countable and uncountable, plural Clemsons)

1. A surname originating as a patronymic.
2. A city in Pickens County and Anderson County, South Carolina, United States, that is home to Clemson University.

   Synonym: Calhoun (obsolete)

3. (informal) Clemson University.

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Clemson is the 37993^rd most common surname in the United States, belonging to 584 individuals. Clemson is most common among White (94.69%) individuals.

Etymology 2

From the performance of the Clemson Tigers (NCAA college football), who had a history of facing weak opposition in their conference and so their record of wins led to high expectations that were not met.

Verb

Clemson (third-person singular simple present Clemsons, present participle Clemsoning, simple past and past participle Clemsoned)

1. (US, sports, slang) To perform uncharacteristically poorly, well below expectations.
   • 2013 December 2, Chris Haire, “God doesn't like the Clemson Tigers”, in Charleston City Paper:

     Anyone who was watching Saturday's loss to the Steve Spurrier-led Gamecocks surely could tell within the first quarter — if not that first failed drive — that Clemson was Clemsoning once again.

   • 2014 September 21, Des Bieler, “Against Florida State, Clemson's 'Clemsoning' was the most 'Clemsoning' Clemson ever Clemsoned”, in The Washington Post:

     At this point, it wasn’t enough to point out that Clemson had just Clemsoned in epic fashion.

   • 2015 October 12, Ty Duffy, “On College Football: Time For The Bob Stoops and Mark Richt Talks”, in The Big Lead:

     Clemson has not “Clemsoned” since losing to GT after starting 8-0 in 2011.

   • 2016, Clemson Tough: Guts and Glory Under Dabo Swinney, page 56:

     Dabo, you talked about people saying how possibly are you going to get ready for this game, and I know as unfair as that term has been and the way it's been applied to Clemson, the whole "Clemsoning" thing and losing games you're not supposed to, how does this team kind of approach that differently in you mind?

Further reading

• Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Clemson”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 1, New York City: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 344.

Anagrams

• Clemons