soft-shell
Americanadjective
noun
Etymology
Origin of soft-shell
First recorded in 1795–1805
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I ordered a stir fry of crab and broken rice with greens and yam that came topped with a fried soft-shell crab drizzled with shito, a Ghanaian chili sauce.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026
A couple models are sufficiently protective that the wearers don’t have to practice with Guardian Caps, the soft-shell covers that fit over standard helmets to provide additional cushion and protection.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2024
In the 1970s, soft-shell clams started mysteriously dying off in Maine and the Chesapeake Bay.
From New York Times ● Oct. 2, 2023
Instead of trying to pick a steamed or boiled green crab, they're better eaten in soft-shell form or used to make flavorful stocks, sauces and butters.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2023
“It’s soft-shell crab,” Grandma said, inching forward as the line did.
From "As Brave As You" by Jason Reynolds
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
