scallop

Also scol·lop

[skol-uhp, skal-]

noun

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

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

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

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

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

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

verb (used with object)

1. to finish (an edge) with scallops.

2. Cooking.,  to escallop.

verb (used without object)

1. to dredge for scallops.

scallop

/ ˈskɒləp, ˈskæl- /

noun

1. 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

2. the edible adductor muscle of certain of these molluscs

3. either of the shell valves of any of these molluscs

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

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

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

7. a potato cake fried in batter

verb

1. (tr) to decorate (an edge) with scallops

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

3. (intr) to collect scallops

Other Word Forms

• unscalloped adjective
• scalloping noun
• scalloper noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scallop¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of scallop¹

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

Example Sentences

Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Tokyo on Friday urged Taiwanese seafood lovers to buy all the Japanese scallops they can to counter Beijing’s threatened import ban.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She also shared her favorite dishes to make on Thanksgiving: “It’s either a pie or I love scalloped potatoes.”

Read more on Salon

"Today's lunch is sushi and miso soup," a message posted with the photo said, along with the hashtag #Yellowtail from Kagoshima and scallops from Hokkaido.

Read more on Barron's

Smaller hammerhead species such as the scalloped bonnethead, scoophead, and Pacific bonnethead have been devastated by overfishing, leaving so few that researchers struggle to find or study them.

Read more on Science Daily

Once I got the rhythm down, I began to experiment: a fringe here, a scalloped edge there, even the terrifying act of turning a corner.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• clam 
• conch 
• crawfish 
• crustacean 
• lobster 
• mollusk 
• mussel 
• oyster 
• prawn 
• shrimp 
• snail