definitions

oystershell scale

[ oi-ster-shel ]
/ ˈɔɪ stərˌʃɛl /

noun

a scale insect, Lepidosaphes ulmi, having a scale shaped like the shell of an oyster, which infests various deciduous trees and shrubs.

Nearby words

oystered, oysterfish, oystering, oysterman, oysters rockefeller, oystershell scale, oysterwoman, oz, oz., oz. ap., oz. av.

Origin of oystershell scale

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; oyster + shell
Also called oyster scale.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019