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(Zool.) A species of shell (Cypræa argus), beautifully variegated with spots resembling those in a peacock's tail. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) A marine bivalve shell belonging to the genus Arca and its allies. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) (a) A marine gastropod of the genus Crepidula. The species are numerous. It is so named from its form and interior deck. (b) A marine univalve shell of the genus Cymba. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A bomb. See Bomb, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. something or someone that stuns or amazes, especially suddenly and unexpectedly; as, the news of the president's affair was a political bombshell; a blonde bombshell. [ PJC ]

(Zool.) A marine univalve shell of the genus Bulla and allied genera, belonging to the Tectibranchiata. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. the shell of a clam. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. a dredging bucket with hinges like the shell of a clam.
Syn. -- grapple. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. One of the shells or valves of a cockle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A light boat. [ 1913 Webster ]

To board the cockleshell in those plunding waters. W. Black. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A machine that separates the kernels of corn from the cob. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zoöl.) any of various large edible marine gastropod mollusks of the genus Haliotis, having a flattened ear-shaped shell with a pearly interior; -- called also sea-ear. See Abalone.
Syn. -- abalone. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. The shell or exterior covering of an egg. Also used figuratively for anything resembling an eggshell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zoöl.) A smooth, white, marine, gastropod shell of the genus Ovulum, resembling an egg in form. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. of a pale, yellowish-white color; as, an eggshell ceiling and light green walls. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

2. (Architecture) having a smooth but not glossy texture like that of a hen's egg; as, a latex paint giving an eggshell finish. Also referred to as matte glaze or non-lustrous glaze. [ PJC ]

n. (Zool.) A marine univalve shell of the genus Pyrula, or Ficula, resembling a fig in form.

n. (Zool.) One of numerous species of marine gastropod shells, belonging to Ranella and allied genera. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) A large, handsome, marine, univalve shell (Triton femorale). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A sharp-edged, tubular, marine shell, of the genus Vermetus; also, the pinna. See Vermetus. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Unyielding; insensible to argument; uncompromising; strict. [ Colloq., U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To hide in a shell. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ From the native name. ] (Zool.) The shell of a large Dentalium (Dentalium pretiosum), formerly used as shell money, and for ornaments, by the Indians of the west coast of North America. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A mollusklike marine animal with bivalve shell having a pair of arms bearing tentacles for capturing food, found worldwide.
Syn. -- brachiopod. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

(Zool.) A large, pearly, spiral, marine shell (Turbo margaritaceus), from the Pacific Islands. It is used as an ornament. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A chiton. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) Any spiral marine shell of the genus Persona, having a curiously twisted aperture. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The shell or hard external covering in which the kernel of a nut is inclosed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, a thing of little compass, or of little value. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) A shell of the genus Nucula. [ 1913 Webster ]

in a nutshell in a summarized and very abbreviated form; -- of statments, descriptions, reports, and other communications; as, to describe the convention in a nutshell. --
To be in a nutshell or
To lie in a nutshell,
, to be within a small compass; to admit of very brief or simple determination or statement. “The remedy lay in a nutshell.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. (Zool.) A small British and American pond snail (Bulinus hypnorum). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small white polished marine shells of the genus Olivella. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The shell of any marine mollusk. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. shelle, schelle, AS. scell, scyll; akin to D. shel, Icel. skel, Goth. skalja a tile, and E. skill. Cf. Scale of fishes, Shale, Skill. ] 1. A hard outside covering, as of a fruit or an animal. Specifically: (a) The covering, or outside part, of a nut; as, a hazelnut shell. (b) A pod. (c) The hard covering of an egg. [ 1913 Webster ]

Think him as a serpent's egg, . . .
And kill him in the shell. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) (Zool.) The hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of mollusks, crustaceans, and some other invertebrates. In some mollusks, as the cuttlefishes, it is internal, or concealed by the mantle. Also, the hard covering of some vertebrates, as the armadillo, the tortoise, and the like. (e) (Zool.) Hence, by extension, any mollusks having such a covering. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mil.) A hollow projectile, of various shapes, adapted for a mortar or a cannon, and containing an explosive substance, ignited with a fuse or by percussion, by means of which the projectile is burst and its fragments scattered. See Bomb. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The case which holds the powder, or charge of powder and shot, used with breechloading small arms. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Any slight hollow structure; a framework, or exterior structure, regarded as not complete or filled in; as, the shell of a house. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A coarse kind of coffin; also, a thin interior coffin inclosed in a more substantial one. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. An instrument of music, as a lyre, -- the first lyre having been made, it is said, by drawing strings over a tortoise shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

When Jubal struck the chorded shell. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. An engraved copper roller used in print works. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. pl. The husks of cacao seeds, a decoction of which is often used as a substitute for chocolate, cocoa, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Naut.) The outer frame or case of a block within which the sheaves revolve. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. A light boat the frame of which is covered with thin wood or with paper; as, a racing shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. Something similar in form or action to an ordnance shell; specif.: (a) (Fireworks) A case or cartridge containing a charge of explosive material, which bursts after having been thrown high into the air. It is often elevated through the agency of a larger firework in which it is contained. (b) (Oil Wells) A torpedo. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

12. A concave rough cast-iron tool in which a convex lens is ground to shape. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

13. A gouge bit or shell bit. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Message shell, a bombshell inside of which papers may be put, in order to convey messages. --
Shell bit, a tool shaped like a gouge, used with a brace in boring wood. See Bit, n., 3. --
Shell button. (a) A button made of shell. (b) A hollow button made of two pieces, as of metal, one for the front and the other for the back, -- often covered with cloth, silk, etc. --
Shell cameo, a cameo cut in shell instead of stone. --
Shell flower. (Bot.) Same as Turtlehead. --
Shell gland. (Zool.) (a) A glandular organ in which the rudimentary shell is formed in embryonic mollusks. (b) A glandular organ which secretes the eggshells of various worms, crustacea, mollusks, etc. --
Shell gun, a cannon suitable for throwing shells. --
Shell ibis (Zool.), the openbill of India. --
Shell jacket, an undress military jacket. --
Shell lime, lime made by burning the shells of shellfish. --
Shell marl (Min.), a kind of marl characterized by an abundance of shells, or fragments of shells. --
Shell meat, food consisting of shellfish, or testaceous mollusks. Fuller. --
Shell mound. See under Mound. --
Shell of a boiler, the exterior of a steam boiler, forming a case to contain the water and steam, often inclosing also flues and the furnace; the barrel of a cylindrical, or locomotive, boiler. --
Shell road, a road of which the surface or bed is made of shells, as oyster shells. --
Shell sand, minute fragments of shells constituting a considerable part of the seabeach in some places. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Shelled p. pr. & vb. n. Shelling. ] 1. To strip or break off the shell of; to take out of the shell, pod, etc.; as, to shell nuts or pease; to shell oysters. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To separate the kernels of (an ear of Indian corn, wheat, oats, etc.) from the cob, ear, or husk. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To throw shells or bombs upon or into; to bombard; as, to shell a town. [ 1913 Webster ]

To shell out, to distribute freely; to bring out or pay, as money. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To fall off, as a shell, crust, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cast the shell, or exterior covering; to fall out of the pod or husk; as, nuts shell in falling. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be disengaged from the ear or husk; as, wheat or rye shells in reaping. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) See Sheldafle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A species of hickory (Carya alba) whose outer bark is loose and peeling; a shagbark; also, its nut. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Having a shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, shells; as, an oyster sheller; a corn sheller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any aquatic animal whose external covering consists of a shell, either testaceous, as in oysters, clams, and other mollusks, or crustaceous, as in lobsters and crabs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Groats; hulled oats. Simmonds. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ Shell + lac a resinous substance; cf. D. shellak, G. schellack. ] 1. Lac which has been reduced to a thin crust. See the Note under 2d Lac. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A solution of shellac{ 1 } in alcohol or other volatile solvent, used as a varnish. [ PJC ]

3. A phonograph record, made of a material containing shellac; -- no longer manufactured. [ Obsolescent ] RHUD [ PJC ]

a. Having no shell. J. Burroughs. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of resisting bombs or other shells; bombproof. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Work composed of shells, or adorned with them. Cotgrave. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Abounding with shells; consisting of shells, or of a shell. “The shelly shore.” Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shrinks backward in his shelly cave. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any species of Pleurotomaria, a genus of beautiful, pearly, spiral gastropod shells having a deep slit in the outer lip. Many fossil species are known, and a few living ones are found in deep water in tropical seas. [ 1913 Webster ]

} a. Having a soft or fragile shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Soft-shell clam (Zool.), the long clam. See Mya. --
Soft-shelled crab. (Zool.) See the Note under Crab, 1. --
Soft-shelled turtle. (Zool.) Same as Soft tortoise, under Soft. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any marine gastropod shell of the genus Apporhais having an elongated siphon. See Illust. under Rostrifera. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any one of several species of handsome marine gastropod shells of the genus Trochus, or Imperator. The shell is conical, with the margin toothed somewhat like the rowel of a spur. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Any species of Lingula. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any species of Dentalium and allied genera having a tooth-shaped shell. See Dentalium. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of marine top-shaped shells of the genus Trochus, or family Trochidae. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Ordnance) A shell longer than a deck-piercing shell, with thinner walls and a larger cavity for the bursting charge, which consists of about 130 pounds of high explosive. It has no soft cap, and is intended to effect its damage by the powerful explosion which follows on slight resistance. It is used chiefly in 12-inch mortars. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]