abalone

American  

[ab-uh-loh-nee] / ˌæb əˈloʊ ni /

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.

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abalone British  

/ ˌæbəˈləʊnɪ /

noun

1. Also called: ear shell.  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 See also ormer

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Etymology

Origin of abalone

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

Example Sentences

The only otter seen on Thursday was way off shore, floating on its back atop a kelp bed — presumably eating some tasty morsel, such as a crab or abalone, retrieved from the sea floor.

From Los Angeles Times

There are exquisite medallions and hair ornaments made from iridescent abalone shells and strings of Chumash currency — tiny, doughnut-shaped beads created from carefully cut olivella shells.

From Los Angeles Times

On special is an abalone soup, an alien beast in his time, and not our cup of tea, but they say Hemingway took a shine.

From Salon

For decades it has been illegal to fish for, catch, or keep any species of abalone in California — except for some permitted harvesting of red abalone north of San Francisco during designated periods.

From Los Angeles Times

He took loads of halibut and abalone off the La Costa Beach.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• mollusk