razor shelln.
/ˈreɪzəʃɛl/, U.S. /ˈreɪzərˌʃɛl/ Any of a large group of bivalve molluscs of the superfamily Solenaceae, having a long narrow shell resembling a folded cut-throat razor in shape and typically burrowing in sand; the shell of such a mollusc. Also called razor clam, razor-fish.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > class Pelecypoda or Conchifera > [noun] > section Siphonida > sinu-pallialia > family Solenidae
razorc1311
spout1525
spout-fish1594
razor-fish1602
sheath-fish1602
hagfish1611
pitot1611
solen1661
sheath shell1712
sheatha1717
razor shell1752
knife-handle1755
sea-pencil1755
razor-shell clam1792
long clam1811
scabbard razor-shell1813
scimitar razor-shell1819
spout shell1848
scimitar1855
razor clam1860
1752 J. Hill Gen. Nat. Hist. III. 170 The large, brown, common Solen, called the Razor-shell and Sheath-shell.
1785 H. Swinburne Trav. in Two Sicilies II. 10 They walk up to their chins in the sea backwards and forwards,..moving their feet sideways along the sand till they feel the sharp edge of a razor shell.
1794 in Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. (1810) 1st Ser. III. 199 The shores and marshes afford large and small clams, quahaugs, razor shells,..and cockles.
1856 P. Thompson Hist. & Antiq. Boston xiv. 681 Upon the sands in Boston Deeps are found great numbers of solens, or razor-shells... In many places..[they] are regarded as being much superior to the cockle in flavour.
1869 J. G. Wood Comm. Shells of Sea-shore (ed. 3) 31 That curious family which are appropriately termed Razor-shells, because, when perfect, the shell looks something like the handle of a closed razor.
1928 F. S. Russell & C. M. Yonge Seas ii. 38 The long razor-shells (Solen) may occasionally be dug at low tide.
1991 R. Goldring Fossils in Field ii. 32 The live fauna includes deeply burrowing razor shells.
Compounds
razor-shell clam n. chiefly U.S. (now rare) = main sense.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > class Pelecypoda or Conchifera > [noun] > section Siphonida > sinu-pallialia > family Solenidae
razorc1311
spout1525
spout-fish1594
razor-fish1602
sheath-fish1602
hagfish1611
pitot1611
solen1661
sheath shell1712
sheatha1717
razor shell1752
knife-handle1755
sea-pencil1755
razor-shell clam1792
long clam1811
scabbard razor-shell1813
scimitar razor-shell1819
spout shell1848
scimitar1855
razor clam1860
1792 J. Belknap Hist. New-Hampsh. III. 183 The Razor-shell clam ‘Solen ensis’.
1935 Jrnl. Paleontol. 9 277/2 Some gastropods..may dwell on sand shores; there may be a considerable number of pelecypods, as the little neck clam, Mya arenaria; the razor shell clam, Solen ensis, [etc.].
2000 C. Clements What's Cooking: Soups 70 Canned baby clams or razor shell clams can be used instead.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1752