shellwork

noun

shell·​work ˈshel-ˌwərk How to pronounce shellwork (audio)
: work adorned with shells or composed of a pattern of shells

Examples of shellwork in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Even the term’s a joke on the French rocaille, an 18th-century term for opulent, decorative shellwork, and coco, a kind of frivolous ‘peek-a-boo’ gesture. Matthew Carey Salyer, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shellwork.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shellwork was in 1592

Dictionary Entries Near shellwork

Cite this Entry

“Shellwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shellwork. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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