Meaning & Definition of word "Shellfish"
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Shellfish
/ˈʃɛl.fɪʃ/
noun:
- 1. Aquatic animals with a shell, typically including mollusks and crustaceans, often used as food.
- Example: Many people are allergic to shellfish, such as shrimp and lobster.
- 2. A common term for various edible aquatic invertebrates, often harvested for culinary purposes.
- Example: The restaurant specializes in fresh shellfish, including clams and oysters.
- 3. Marine animals that have a shell, including both hard-shelled creatures like crabs and soft-shelled kinds like octopus.
- Example: The coastal waters are rich in shellfish like scallops and mussels.
Etymology
The word 'shellfish' comes from the combination of 'shell' and 'fish', where 'shell' refers to the hard outer covering and 'fish' refers to aquatic animals.
Common Phrases and Expressions
shellfish allergy:
An allergic reaction to the consumption of shellfish.
shellfish farming:
The practice of farming shellfish for commercial purposes.
Related Words
mollusk:
A type of invertebrate animal that has a soft body and often a hard shell, like snails and clams.
crustacean:
A class of aquatic animals characterized by a hard shell, segmented body, and jointed legs, such as crabs and lobsters.
Slang Meanings of shellfish
Meaning: To get 'shellfish' with someone
Example Sentence: When my friends hoard all the shrimp, I feel they are being shellfish.
Meaning: Shellfish mood
Example Sentence: After that argument, he was in a shellfish mood all evening.