whelk1
/wɛlk
/noun
A predatory marine mollusc with a heavy pointed spiral shell, some kinds of which are edible.
- Family Buccinidae, class Gastropoda: Buccinum and other genera.
- Overall, mussels, barnacles and whelks all had higher metabolic activities at SH than BB, whereas there was no difference in metabolic activity for sea stars.
- Think of molluscs and chances are it is shellfish such as limpets, whelks, scallops and mussels that spring to mind.
Origin
Old English wioloc, weoloc, of unknown origin; the spelling with wh- was perhaps influenced by whelk2.
Rhymes
whelk2
/wɛlk/noun archaic
A pimple.
Origin
Old English hwylca, related to hwelian 'suppurate'.
- buffalo gnat
- buffalo grass
- buffalo mozzarella
- Buffalo River
- buffalo robe
- buffalo soldier
- buffalo thorn
- buffalo weaver
- Buffalo wings
- buffed
- buffed-out
- buffer
- buffer solution
- buffer state
- buffer stock
- buffer zone
- buffet
- buffet car
- buffeting
- Buffett, Warren
- bufflehead
- buffo
- Buffon, Comte de
- buffoon
- buffoonery