opihin.
/əʊˈpiːhi/, U.S. /oʊˈpihi/ In Hawaii: any of several limpets, esp. Cellana exarata, used as food. Also (more fully opihi shell): the shallow shell of this.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > class Gastropoda > [noun] > superorder Branchifera > order Prosobranchiata > section Holostomata > limpet > member of genus Helcioniscus
opihi1875
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > class Gastropoda > [adjective] > of superorder Branchifera > belonging to order Prosobranchiata > relating to or of the form of the limpet > of genus Helcioniscus
opihi1976
1875 I. L. Bird Hawaiian Archipel. xix. 277 There was an abundance of opilu or limpets.
1903 N. B. Emerson tr. D. Malo Hawaiian Antiq. xv. 71 The following fish are covered with heavy shells:..the maha-moe, the opihi, the cowrie or leho.
1915 W. A. Bryan Nat. Hist. Hawaii xxxv. 466 To the old-world limpets belongs the opihi of the natives. It is a favorite food with the Hawaiians... This knee-cap or umbrella shell is roughly though evenly ribbed without and pearly white within.
1976 National Observer (U.S.) 10 Apr. 17/2 Legend has it that when the highly prized Opihi Shell is given to one's sweetheart, the love between them becomes eternal. Thus, wearing the Opihi around the neck assures that the shell—and their love—is preserved forevermore!
1991 Hawaii June 24/3 One family group will arrange for the pig, another will provide the crabs, another the opihi (a shellfish delicacy), still another will buy the beer.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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