abalone

[ ab-uh-loh-nee ]

noun

1. a large mollusk of the genus Haliotis, having a bowllike shell bearing a row of respiratory holes, the flesh of which is used for food and the shell for ornament and as a source of mother-of-pearl.

abalone

/ ˌæbəˈləʊnɪ /

noun

1. See ormer
   any of various edible marine gastropod molluscs of the genus Haliotis, having an ear-shaped shell that is perforated with a row of respiratory holes. The shells are used for ornament or decoration Also calledear shell See also ormer

Word History and Origins

Origin of abalone¹

1840–50, Americanism; taken as singular of California Spanish abulones, plural of abulón, aulón < a word in Rumsen, a Costanoan language formerly spoken at Monterey, California

Word History and Origins

Origin of abalone¹

C19: from American Spanish abulón; origin unknown

Example Sentences

The business plans called for growing abalone, lobster, oysters, clams, and seaweed.

From Popular-Science

In the case of the excruciatingly slow-growing red abalone, this could be ten to twelve years.

From The Daily Beast

In California, tourists have been pitted against career foragers, causing problems for wild mushrooms and abalone.

From The Daily Beast

On these we stroll and gather abalone shells and empty sea eggs and other relics up-thrown by winter storms.

From Project Gutenberg

Emmie, grown very pink, had thrust Editha and Archibald Abalone under the table.

From Project Gutenberg

Disks of abalone shell with small openings to permit actual vision were fitted into the eye openings in the basket.

From Project Gutenberg

Incidentally, it is interesting to note that the Chinese consumed the abalone meat in large quantities.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet as each man rose again usually he had secured one or more of the large abalone shells.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• mollusk