clamshell

C2+ Topic:Numbers & Quantity

US /ˈklæmˌʃɛl/ UK /ˈklæmˌʃɛl/ See IPA manual

noun

Meanings

1

noun
the shell of a clam, or a hinged case shaped like one

The phone snapped shut with a satisfying clamshell click.

Thesaurus

Word family

Related forms clam shell

Etymology

A compound of clam + shell. Clam is from Old English clam ('bond, fetter, clamp'), from Proto-Germanic *klam-; shell is from Old English sciell.

clam Old English sciell Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Numbers & Quantity

# clamshell

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** ˈklæmˌʃɛl
**IPA (UK):** ˈklæmˌʃɛl

## Meanings
1. the shell of a clam, or a hinged case shaped like one

## Examples
- The phone snapped shut with a satisfying clamshell click.

## Related Forms
- clam
- shell

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: clam
- Root: sciell

## Etymology
A compound of clam + shell. Clam is from Old English clam ('bond, fetter, clamp'), from Proto-Germanic *klam-; shell is from Old English sciell.

## AI Etymology
Clamshell is a noun meaning "the shell of a clam, or a hinged case shaped like one". Historically, it is a compound of clam + shell. Clam is from Old English clam ('bond, fetter, clamp'), from Proto-Germanic *klam-; shell is from Old English sciell. The visible construction is part of the etymology: clamshell is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Old English clam with Old English sciell. Close English family members include clam, and shell.

## Topics
- Numbers & Quantity

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clamshell

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