abalone

[ ab-uh-loh-nee ]
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noun
  1. a large mollusk of the genus Haliotis, having a bowllike shell bearing a row of respiratory holes, the flesh of which is used for food and the shell for ornament and as a source of mother-of-pearl.

Origin of abalone

1
1840–50, Americanism; taken as singular of California Spanish abulones, plural of abulón,aulón< a word in Rumsen, a Costanoan language formerly spoken at Monterey, California

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British Dictionary definitions for abalone

abalone

/ (ˌæbəˈləʊnɪ) /


noun
  1. any of various edible marine gastropod molluscs of the genus Haliotis, having an ear-shaped shell that is perforated with a row of respiratory holes. The shells are used for ornament or decoration: Also called: ear shell See also ormer

Origin of abalone

1
C19: from American Spanish abulón; origin unknown

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