whelk

¹

[ welk, hwelk ]

noun

1. any of several large, spiral-shelled, marine gastropods of the family Buccinidae, especially Buccinum undatum, that is used for food in Europe.

whelk

²

[ welk, hwelk ]

noun

1. a pimple or pustule.

whelk

¹

/ wɛlk /

noun

1. a raised lesion on the skin; wheal

whelk

²

/ wɛlk /

noun

1. any carnivorous marine gastropod mollusc of the family Buccinidae, of coastal waters and intertidal regions, having a strong snail-like shell

Derived Forms

• ˈwhelky, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of whelk¹

before 900; late Middle English, aspirated variant of Middle English welk, Old English weoloc

Origin of whelk²

before 1000; Middle English whelke, Old English hwylca, hwelca; akin to wheal

Word History and Origins

Origin of whelk¹

Old English hwylca, of obscure origin

Origin of whelk²

Old English weoloc; related to Middle Dutch willok, Old Norse vil entrails

Example Sentences

As he grows he needs a larger house, and so leaves the tight shell and pops his tail into a bigger one, generally a whelk shell.

From Project Gutenberg

Some of them would swallow the whelk shell, crab and all, but they would not eat one on which an Anemone was fixed.

From Project Gutenberg

The Whelk, however, is a clever burglar; he knows how to make a way into the hardest of shelly houses.

From Project Gutenberg

Now we will look at a shell-builder, the Whelk, who uses his flinty tongue in quite another fashion.

From Project Gutenberg

The whelk and his cousins know how to bore a hole in the shell, and suck out the helpless Oyster.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clam
• conch
• crawfish
• crustacean
• lobster
• mollusk
• mussel
• oyster
• prawn
• scallop
• shrimp
• snail