snail

[sneyl]

noun

1. any mollusk of the class Gastropoda, having a spirally coiled shell and a ventral muscular foot on which it slowly glides about.

2. a slow or lazy person; sluggard.

3. Machinery.,  a cam having the form of a spiral.

4. Midwestern and Western U.S.,  a sweet roll in spiral form, especially a cinnamon roll or piece of Danish pastry.

snail

/ sneɪl /

noun

1. any of numerous terrestrial or freshwater gastropod molluscs with a spirally coiled shell, esp any of the family Helicidae, such as Helix aspersa ( garden snail )

2. any other gastropod with a spirally coiled shell, such as a whelk

3. a slow-moving or lazy person or animal

Other Word Forms

• snaillike adjective
• snail-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of snail¹

before 900; Middle English snail, snayl ( e ), Old English snegel; cognate with Low German snagel, German (dial.) Schnegel

Word History and Origins

Origin of snail¹

Old English snægl; related to Old Norse snigill, Old High German snecko

Example Sentences

There will be a paper trail, either email or snail mail.

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“Why am I stalling? Why are you stalling? You’re moving at a snail’s pace!”

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Her waddling gait was a snail’s pace compared to the ostrich’s swift departure, but for Mrs. Clarke it was remarkably quick.

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The process happens at an incredibly slow rate -- roughly a millionth the speed of a snail.

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Resting on top of this constantly changing layer, the plates creep over, under, and past each other at a rate so slow it would make a snail blush.

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Related Words

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