Dictionary.com
definitions

soft-shell clam

noun

an edible clam, Mya arenaria, inhabiting waters along both coasts of North America, having an oval, relatively thin, whitish shell.

RELATED CONTENT

Blech! Words So Gross They’ll Make You SickRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
9 British Terms That Flummox AmericansRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

Nearby words

soft-land, soft-pedal, soft-rock geology, soft-sell, soft-shell, soft-shell clam, soft-shell crab, soft-shelled, soft-shelled turtle, soft-shoe, soft-soap

Origin of soft-shell clam

An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800
Also called long clam, long-neck clam, soft clam, steamer, steamer clam.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for soft-shell clam

soft-shell clam

noun

any of several marine clams of the genus Mya, esp M. arenaria, an edible species of coastal regions of the US and Europe, having a thin brittle shellSometimes shortened to: soft-shell Compare quahog
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