- soft-shell
-
or soft-shelled
adjective
Date: 1805
having a soft or fragile shell especially as a result of recent shedding <soft-shell crabs>
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
soft-shell
Look at other dictionaries:
Soft-shell — Soft shelled Soft shelled , a. Having a soft or fragile shell. [1913 Webster] {Soft shell clam} (Zo[ o]l.), the long clam. See {Mya}. {Soft shelled crab}. (Zo[ o]l.) See the Note under {Crab}, 1. {Soft shelled turtle}. (Zo[ o]l.) Same as {Soft t … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
soft-shell — soft′ shell adj. 1) zool. Also, soft′ shelled′. having a soft, flexible, or fragile shell, as a crab that has recently molted 2) zool. a soft shell animal, esp. a soft shell crab • Etymology: 1795–1805 … From formal English to slang
soft-shell — ☆ soft shell [sôf′shel΄ ] adj. 1. having a soft shell 2. having an unhardened shell as the result of recent molting: Also soft shelled n. a soft shell animal; esp., a crab that has recently molted … English World dictionary
soft-shell — I. ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ adjective Etymology: soft (I) + shell 1. : having a soft or fragile shell especially as a result of recent shedding 2. : moderate in policy or doctrine : avoiding extreme principles or measures the sort of soft shell left of center… … Useful english dictionary
soft-shell — /sawft shel , soft /, adj. 1. Also, soft shelled. having a soft, flexible, or fragile shell, as a crab that has recently molted. n. 2. a soft shell animal, esp. a soft shell crab. [1795 1805] * * * … Universalium
Soft-shell clam — Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum … Wikipedia
Soft-shell clam — Soft shell Soft shell , Soft shelled Soft shelled , a. Having a soft or fragile shell. [1913 Webster] {Soft shell clam} (Zo[ o]l.), the long clam. See {Mya}. {Soft shelled crab}. (Zo[ o]l.) See the Note under {Crab}, 1. {Soft shelled turtle}.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Soft-shell crab — in New Orleans, Louisiana Soft shell crab is a culinary term for crabs which have recently molted their old exoskeleton and are still soft.[1] In the United States, the main species is the blue crab , Callin … Wikipedia
soft-shell crab — soft′ shell crab′ n. ivt a crab, esp. the blue crab, that has recently molted and therefore has a soft, edible shell • Etymology: 1835–45 … From formal English to slang
soft-shell turtle — soft′ shell tur′tle n. ram any aquatic turtle of the family Trionychidae, inhabiting North America, Asia, and Africa, having the shell covered with flexible, leathery skin • Etymology: 1880–90 … From formal English to slang
