whelk Hear it!

whelk definition

whelk (hwelk, welk)

noun

any of various families (esp. Buccinidae) of large marine snails which are often carnivorous and edible

Etymology: ME welke < OE wioluc < IE base *wel-, to turn (with reference to the spiral shell) > walk

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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