quahog

American  

[kwaw-hawg, -hog, kwoh-, koh-, kwuh-hawg, -hog] / ˈkwɔ hɔg, -hɒg, kwoʊ-, ˈkoʊ-, kwəˈhɔg, -ˈhɒg /

Or quahaug

noun

1. an edible clam, Venus (sometimesMercenaria ) mercenaria, inhabiting waters along the Atlantic coast, having a relatively thick shell.

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quahog British  

/ ˈkoʊˌhɒɡ /

noun

1. Also called: hard-shell clam.   hard-shell.   round clam.  an edible clam, Venus (or Mercenaria ) mercenaria, native to the Atlantic coast of North America, having a large heavy rounded shell Compare soft-shell clam

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Etymology

Origin of quahog

An Americanism dating back to 1745–55; from Narragansett ( English spelling) poquaûhock

Example Sentences

And the ocean quahog, a type of clam that can live more than 500 years, making it the longest living animal, is predicted to struggle.

From BBC

Scientists, lawmakers, and those who make their living from Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay are teaming up to hunt for the reason why quahogs appear to be on the decline.

From Seattle Times

Then he stumbled upon something that stunned him: a seemingly centuries-old quahog clam.

From Washington Post

Still others, such as my beloved quahogs, have evolved ways to keep muscles strong and hearts beating for centuries.

From Salon

They occupied a land of plenty, hunting deer, elk and bear in the forests, fishing for herring and trout, and harvesting quahogs — clams — in the rivers and bays.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• mollusk