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whelk

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(hwelk, welk)

noun

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

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

See whelk in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Any of various large, mostly edible marine snails of the family Buccinidae, having a pointed, spiral shell, especially Buccinum undatum, which is commonly eaten in Europe.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English welke, whelke

Origin: , from Old English weoloc; see wel-² in Indo-European roots

noun

An inflamed swelling, such as a pimple or pustule.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English whelke

Origin: , from Old English hwylca

Origin: ; akin to hwelian, to suppurate

Related Forms:

whelkˈy adjective

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