softshell

1 of 2

noun

soft·​shell ˈsȯf(t)-ˌshel How to pronounce softshell (audio)
: any of a family (Trionychidae) of freshwater carnivorous turtles that have sharp claws and mandibles and a flat round shell covered with soft leathery skin instead of with horny plates

called also soft-shelled turtle

Illustration of softshell

Illustration of softshell

soft-shell

2 of 2

adjective

variants or soft-shelled
: having a soft or fragile shell especially as a result of recent shedding
soft-shell crabs

Examples of softshell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Since last December, Nile monitors, African helmeted turtles, Chinese softshell turtles, Argentine black and white tegus, and Indian rock and Burmese pythons have been listed as wild animals in Georgia, the agency said. Gina Martinez, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2023 While a softshell windbreaker might be the perfect choice for a fall desert hike, a winter trek requires multiple layers of insulation. Lindsey Lapointe, Field & Stream, 3 Aug. 2023 Most outer layers available are rain shells, hard shells, and softshells. Lindsey Lapointe, Field & Stream, 3 Aug. 2023 Their hardshell and softshell spinners come in a ton of different designs and styles—no two look the same. Addison Aloian, Women's Health, 7 July 2023 Snow pants usually fall into one of three categories for their primary fabric: hardshell, softshell, or hybrid, which uses both hardshell and softshell fabrics. Chris Meehan, Popular Mechanics, 17 Aug. 2022 Lightly armored bundles of joy Small miracles are popping out of the mud around Myanmar’s largest lake: Burmese peacock softshell turtles, just hatched. Manuela Andreoni, New York Times, 27 June 2023 Whereas some hardshell tents can accommodate gear racks on top of them, this softshell only takes up half the car’s roof. Will Egensteiner, Popular Mechanics, 29 Mar. 2023 During a stroll along the central pond, guests can marvel at great blue herons, cormorants, and the peculiar-looking Florida softshell turtle, while the sparkling waters just past the park are a haven for sea ducks, saltwater fish, and, of course, Florida’s native manatees. Jared Ranahan, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2023
Adjective
Check out our best crab recipes, ranging from soft-shell to crab cakes to party dips, and all the side dishes to serve alongside your favorite crustacean. Coastal Living, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2024 Highlights of her menu include crispy soft-shell crab and her iconic tigre qui pleure (crying tiger) spicy beef dish. Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2024 Not to mention, the Euphrates soft-shell turtle, which is a highly endangered species only present in a few areas on the river. Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 8 Feb. 2024 Specialties of the house are the red snapper tostada, fish and shrimp ceviche, oysters and soft-shell crab tacos, as well as Mexican bloody marys and beers. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Dec. 2023 The tasty, soft-shell crab bao buns will tide you over nicely. Ann Marie McQueen, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Nov. 2023 Slather these soft-shell crab sandwiches with homemade spicy mayo flavored with pepperoncini. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2023 Fried soft-shell crabs were wrapped in lettuce leaves like ssam, served with Vietnamese herbs, a version of Thai nam prik and cilantro blossoms. Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023 There are hard-shell, soft-shell, folio, and roll-up varieties that are designed with different layers of pouches, elastics, zippers, and pockets. Kelsey Glennon, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'softshell.' 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

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of softshell was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near softshell

soft serve

softshell

soft-shell

Cite this Entry

“Softshell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/softshell. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

soft-shell

adjective
ˈsȯf(t)-ˌshel
variants or soft-shelled
-ˈsheld
: having a soft or fragile shell especially as a result of recent shedding
soft-shell crabs
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