scallop

[skol-uh p, skal-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR scallop ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

any of the bivalve mollusks of the genus Argopecten (Pecten) and related genera that swim by rapidly clapping the fluted shell valves together.

the adductor muscle of certain species of such mollusks, used as food.

one of the shells of such a mollusk, usually having radial ribs and a wavy outer edge.

a scallop shell or a dish in which food, especially seafood, is baked and served.

Cookery. a thin slice of meat, usually further flattened by pounding with a mallet or other implement.

any of a series of curved projections cut along the edge, as of a fabric.

verb (used with object)

to finish (an edge) with scallops.

Cookery. to escallop.

verb (used without object)

to dredge for scallops.

Also scollop.

Origin of scallop

1350–1400; Middle English scalop, aphetic variant of escal(l)op escallop; sense “thin slice of meat” probably by association with French escalope escalope

Related formsun·scal·loped, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for scallop

clam, crustacean, mollusk, snail, conch, crawfish, prawn, shrimp, lobster, mussel, oyster, incision, indentation, trench, scrunch, pucker, buckle, writhe, curve, contort

Examples from the Web for scallop

Contemporary Examples of scallop

“That scallop dish is just a raw scallop with a grilled cucumber and cucumber vinaigrette,” said McGarry.
Meet Flynn McGarry: America’s Next Great Chef Is 14 Years Old
Jace Lacob
May 23, 2013
Scallop Ceviche by Alice Waters The woman behind Chez Panisse serves up a wonderful seafood summer salad.
What to Eat
Cookstr.com
August 25, 2009

Historical Examples of scallop

Grease some scallop shells, and sprinkle them with bread-crumbs.
The Skilful Cook
Mary Harrison
Put the mince into scallop shells or saucers three parts full, and fill them up with potatoes, mashed with a little cream.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton
Put it into scallop shells or saucers, making them three parts full, and fill them up with potatoes, mashed with a little cream.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton
Put it into scallop shells, and fill them up with grated bread; over which put a little butter, and brown them before the fire.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton
Who's this coming up the path with his eyes all round him like a scallop?
The Manxman
Hall Caine

British Dictionary definitions for scallop

scallop

noun

any of various marine bivalves of the family Pectinidae, having a fluted fan-shaped shell: includes free-swimming species (genus Pecten) and species attached to a substratum (genus Chlamys)See also pecten (def. 3)

the edible adductor muscle of certain of these molluscs

either of the shell valves of any of these molluscs

a scallop shell or similarly shaped dish, in which fish, esp shellfish, is cooked and served

one of a series of curves along an edge, esp an edge of cloth

the shape of a scallop shell used as the badge of a pilgrim, esp in the Middle Ages

mainly Australian a potato cake fried in batter

verb

(tr) to decorate (an edge) with scallops

to bake (food) in a scallop shell or similar dish

(intr) to collect scallops

Derived Formsscalloper, nounscalloping, noun

Word Origin for scallop

C14: from Old French escalope shell, of Germanic origin; see scalp

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for scallop

"bivalve mollusk," c.1400, from Old French escalope "shell (of a nut), carpace," variant of eschalope, probably from a Germanic source (cf. Old Norse skalpr "sheath," Middle Dutch schelpe "shell"); see scale (n.1). The shells of the larger species have been used as domestic utensils. Extended 17c. to objects shaped like scallop shells, especially in design and dress. The verb in the cookery sense, "to bake with sauce in a scallop shell-shaped pan," is attested from 1737. Related: Scalloped; scalloping.