whelk 1 (wĕlk, hwĕlk)
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Tweet n. Any of various large marine carnivorous snails chiefly of the family Buccinidae, having a pointed spiral shell, especially the edible species Buccinum undatum of the North Atlantic Ocean. [Middle English welke, whelke, from Old English weoloc; see wel-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
whelk 2 (wĕlk, hwĕlk)
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Tweet n. An inflamed swelling, such as a pimple or pustule. [Middle English whelke, from Old English hwylca; akin to hwelian, to suppurate.] whelky adj. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.