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. 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

In the southern sea otter's range of coastal Central California, some of the preferred prey such as large abalone and sea urchins, are not difficult to break open.

From Science Daily

At the Bodega Bay open house, an abalone diver, Doug Jung, summarized fishermen’s worries succinctly: Wouldn’t reintroduced otters “strip mine the ocean”?

From Los Angeles Times

Dozens of local workers gather in groups on the concrete walls of the small port on the island to sort abalone shells for harvesting.

From BBC

The kelp loss prompted the California Fish and Game Commission to close its recreational red abalone fishery in 2018.

From Seattle Times

Van Oordt said he is also unwilling to put abalone in the sea “to create a bigger poaching environment.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• mollusk