eggshell

[ eg-shel ]

noun

1. the shell of a bird's egg, consisting of keratin fibers and calcite crystals.
2. a pale yellowish-white color.
3. rather bulky paper having a slightly rough finish.

adjective

1. like an eggshell, as in thinness and delicacy; very brittle; fragile.
2. being pale yellowish-white in color.
3. having little or no gloss:

   eggshell white paint.

eggshell

/ ˈɛɡˌʃɛl /

noun

1. the hard porous protective outer layer of a bird's egg, consisting of calcite and protein
2. a yellowish-white colour
3. a type of paper with a slightly rough finish
4. modifier (of paint) having a very slight sheen

   an eggshell finish

5. walk on eggshells
   to be very cautious or diplomatic for fear of upsetting someone

adjective

1. of a yellowish-white colour

   eggshell paint

Word History and Origins

Origin of eggshell¹

First recorded in 1250–1300, eggshell is from the Middle English word ayschelle. See egg ¹, shell

Example Sentences

The inside of eggshells can be contaminated with salmonella bacteria, which causes a potentially serious foodborne illness.

From Washington Post

Though you’re not supposed to include food waste like apple cores and eggshells in there.

From Voice of San Diego

Among other aspects, the court considered the wording too vague — had the eggshell read “To Mag, everything I possess,” the outcome might have been different.

From Ozy

The FoodCycler can hold a substantial amount of food, even crush chicken bones and eggshells, and dramatically cut down the volume of your food waste.

From Popular-Science

Nor did they know why tiny structures within eggshells are so different across the three main types of dinosaurs.

From Science News For Students

Is not my anger terrible as I dash your argosy, your thunder-bearing frigate, into fragments, as you would crack an eggshell?

From Project Gutenberg

This water is so holy that everything placed in the spring becomes as white as the film, within an eggshell.

From Project Gutenberg

Apparently the safety-bolt was missing from all of them, making them when loaded as brittle as an eggshell.

From Project Gutenberg

She paused a moment, lifting one of the silver spoons to break the end of her eggshell.

From Project Gutenberg

This is very different to the hard, calcareous eggshell of birds.

From Project Gutenberg