Main Entry:

¹scal·lop

Pronunciation:

\ˈskä-ləp, ˈska-, ˈskȯ-\

Variant(s):

also scol·lop \ˈskä-, ˈskȯ-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English scalop, from Anglo-French escalope shell, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch schelpe shell

Date:

15th century

1 a: any of numerous marine bivalve lamellibranch mollusks (family Pectinidae) that have a radially ribbed shell with the edge undulated and that swim by opening and closing the valves b: the adductor muscle of a scallop as an article of food2 a: a valve or shell of a scallop b: a baking dish shaped like a valve of a scallop3: one of a continuous series of circle segments or angular projections forming a border (as on cloth or metal)4: pattypan5 [French escalope, probably from Middle French, shell] : a thin slice of boneless meat or fish <veal scallops> —called also escalope

[scallop illustration]