shellfish

[ shel-fish ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) shell·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) shell·fish·es.

1. an aquatic animal having a shell, as the oyster and other mollusks and the lobster and other crustaceans.

shellfish

/ ˈʃɛlˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any aquatic invertebrate having a shell or shell-like carapace, esp such an animal used as human food. Examples are crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters and molluscs such as oysters

Word History and Origins

Origin of shellfish¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English scilfisc. See shell, fish

Example Sentences

While battered by waves or strong currents, the shellfish firmly hold onto rocks in rivers and oceans.

From Science News For Students

Yet some shellfish species are trying to adapt to those rapidly occurring changes.

From Washington Post

Many shellfish farms on coastal regions were hit by historically hot temperatures.

From Washington Post

He heard that a local shellfish commission was opening up new oyster grounds, for the first time in a century-and-a-half.

From Freakonomics

I can’t put my thumb on it, but there was a mystery to growing plants, a pleasure apart from fishing and farming shellfish.

From Freakonomics

Two men stepped out and entered a modest seafood restaurant called Mario's Fresh Shellfish.

From The Daily Beast

Over the course of the Old Testament God firms up the regulations about consuming shellfish and pork.

From The Daily Beast

Eat: The area is renowned for its cuisine, especially fish, shellfish, hearty rice dishes, and stews.

From The Daily Beast

However, the Spanish government says the cement blocks impaired Spanish fishermen from trolling the same waters for shellfish.

From The Daily Beast

This disease is caused by naturally occurring toxins that are found in the tissue of some shellfish.

From The Daily Beast

These fish are very tempting and delicate, and are not so injurious as shellfish are apt to be.

From Project Gutenberg

The shores appear to abound with shellfish, although Dampier thought that shells hereabouts were scarce.

From Project Gutenberg

It is called "ostrum" because it is taken from the shells of marine shellfish.

From Project Gutenberg

Farewell to sumptuous suppers of shellfish and Rueda wine in the Caf de la Marina!

From Project Gutenberg

The chief food of these people seemed to be the bulbs of the water-lilies, fish and shellfish.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clam
• conch
• crawfish
• crustacean
• lobster
• mollusk
• mussel
• oyster
• prawn
• scallop
• shrimp
• snail