Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. Any of several marine bivalve mollusks, especially the edible members of the family Mytilidae and in particular Mytilus edulis, a blue-black species raised commercially in Europe. Mussels are often found attached to rocky surfaces or the sides of ships.
- n. Any of several freshwater bivalve mollusks of the genera Anodonta and Unio, found in the central United States, that burrow in the sand or mud of lakes and streams.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. Any one of many bivalve mollusks of various genera and species. Any species of the family Mytilidæ, especially of the genera Mytilus and Modiola, of a triangular form and blackish or dark color, with two adductor muscles and a large byssus or beard. They are chiefly marine, and abound on most sea-coasts. The common mussel is Mytilus edulis. Horse-mussels are species of Modiola. Date-shells or boring mussels are species of Lithodomus which excavate the hardest rocks.
Wiktionary
- n. A small edible bivalve shellfish of the families Unionidae (fresh water mussels) and Mytilidae (salt water mussels).
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. (Zoöl.) Any one of many species of marine bivalve shells of the genus Mytilus, and related genera, of the family
Mytidæ . The common mussel (Mytilus edulis; seeIllust. under byssus), and the larger, or horse, mussel (Modiola modiolus), inhabiting the shores both of Europe and America, are edible. The former is extensively used as food in Europe. - n. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of Unio, and related fresh-water genera; -- called also
river mussel . See Naiad, and Unio.
WordNet 3.0
- n. black marine bivalves usually steamed in wine
- n. marine or freshwater bivalve mollusk that lives attached to rocks etc.
Etymologies
- From Latin mūsculus ("mussel or muscle"), literally "little mouse". (Wiktionary)
- Alteration (possibly influenced by Dutch mossel) of Middle English muscle, from Old English muscelle, from Medieval Latin mūscula, from Latin mūsculus, sea mussel; see muscle. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“And when in Normandy, eat the mussels as the Normans do: grab one empty shell in one hand and use it to pluck the plump mussel from the shell in your other hand.”
The Huffington Post: Kerry Saretsky: Franglais: Moules Marinière over Spaghetti
“The flesh of a fresh mussel is weak and insubstantial, and it's like putting a raw egg yoke on the hook as bait.”
“It had been swimming in the lake -- for muskrats are good swimmers -- when it had found a fresh-water mussel, which is like a clam except that it has a longer shell that is black instead of white.”
“It had been swimming in the lake -- for muskrats are good swimmers -- when it had found a fresh - water mussel, which is like a clam except that it has a longer shell that is black instead of white.”
“The mussel was his greatest joy, perhaps; it had been given him by a fisherman, who had brought a pocket-full back from his sea trip, to please his own children.”
“After all, these plump beauties were harvested just down the coast at Yerseke -- the harbour town known as the mussel capital of Holland.”
“Chemical analysis of this natural, waterproof glue showed that the key to its adhesiveness is a family of unique proteins called mussel adhesive proteins, which contain a high concentration of DOPA (dihydroxyphenylalanine).”
“Mr. Mendes creates dishes such as mussel soup with sausage, an open-faced sea urchin sandwich and plank-grilled Spanish mackerel in escabeche juice.”
“Chef George Mendes, born to Portuguese parents, creates dishes such as mussel soup with sausage, an open-faced sea urchin sandwich, plank-grilled Spanish mackerel in escabeche juice and diver scallops with risotto and orange.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘mussel’.
-
Interesting words
A list of words that are odd or words that I have looked up.
concupiscence, brize, scree, scoria, forestaff, spanaemia, valetudinarianism, distasture, pyrethrum, laudanum, gentian, bicameral and 11184 more...
-
molluscs
very comprehensive list
of molluscs,who does not like
calamari? hmm yum
molluscigerous
100,000 species just in molluscsabalone, ammonite, argonaut, ataata, belon, bivalve, blackhead, bluepoint, brachiopod, buckie, byssal, byssus and 271 more...
-
IMCO - EU nomenclature
includes words of the "Prodcom list"
abaca, abdominal, abrasive, absorbent, absorber, accelerator, accessory, account book, accumulator, acebutolol, acetaldehyde, acetamide and 4515 more...
-
PECH - marine species
Alaska plaice, African cuttlefish, Alaska pollock, Alaska pollack, walleye pollock, alewife, gaspereau, river herring, sawbelly, allis shad, American angler, goosefish and 994 more...
-
food collection
bread, peel, pot, chorizo, Filet, olive, fill, Phyllo, dough, bake, mat, pinot and 988 more...
-
CCel
chattel, channel, kennel, duffel, tunnel, ginnel, fennel, stannel, flannel, scrannel, trunnel, waggel and 24 more...
-
animals (2 syllable)
A list of common animal names. Keep the list to 2 syllable words.No scientific names. No proper names like 'Fluffy' the elephant.Insects and other creatures (even ficticious like 'dragon') are we...
baboon, rabbit, raptor, dragon, camel, hornet, llama, cobra, cheetah, penguin, puppy, dolphin and 87 more...
-
recent
Friends, of, today, are, not, only, interested, molar, Whistles, armpit, stinks, spotted and 26 more...
-
Underwaterritory
When you're underwater, what do you see or experience? Let's dive...
(Here's a cute little related list called Fishful Thinking...)underwater, curglaff, submarine, underwater habitat, diving bell, paravane, bottom trawling, sediment traps, torpedo, mines, shipwreck, sonar and 214 more...
-
RocknRolla (2008)
Words from 2008 'RocknRolla' film.
drip, consent, foothold, bricks and mortar, mortar, councillor, let down, wand, clean out, leg-up, hasty, erect and 115 more...
-
Words I have to learn
exasperate, felony, weld, fraud, worksheet, ransom, rehearse, preliminary, offshore, parole, infamous, sieve and 436 more...
-
The O.U.P. Junior Dictionary Death Row
Another news story about words being removed from a dictionary before their time. See also the list of words added to the dictionary.
carol, cracker, holly, ivy, mistletoe, dwarf, elf, goblin, abbey, aisle, altar, bishop and 137 more...
-
spoon
being items relating to food, cooking and the kitchen.
spoon, fork, beef, slice, dozen, eggs, simmer, broil, salad, soup, stock, lard and 287 more...
-
Evin290's Words
puerile, fastidious, blatherskite, folderol, femtosecond, redox, incarnadine, cerulean, genuflection, muslin, multitudinous, miasma and 517 more...
-
Mollusks
"Snaily, clammy, squidy" has evolved into a vehicle for linking to mollusk quotations, so I've started this list for vernacular names of mollusks.
clam, snail, slug, squid, octopus, nautilus, conch, chank, whelk, mussel, oyster, scallop and 221 more...
-
encyclopedia gustatorica
béchamel, tart, pie, cupcake, roux, jambalaya, étouffé, succulent, plum, pomegranate, peach, apple and 300 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for mussel.
Comments
No comments yet...
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.