clamshell

noun

clam·​shell ˈklam-ˌshel 

1

: the shell of a clam

2

a

: a bucket or grapple (as on a dredge) having two hinged jaws

b

: an excavating machine having a clamshell

c

: either of a pair of doors (as in an airplane tail) that open out and away from each other

d

: a hinged container, case, or cover that opens like the shell of a clam

Examples of clamshell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Clamshell The clamshell exercise strengthens muscles on the outer hips:3 Lie on your left side with your knees bent and legs stacked on each other. —Aubrey Bailey, Pt, Dpt, Cht, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2025

In addition to the concept functioning like a regular clamshell laptop, users could extend the screen into an extra-tall display. —Ars Technica, 6 Mar. 2025

For more intense workloads (say, in specialized high-school environments or for demanding college curricula), Framework has its other, bigger Framework Laptop clamshell options. —Michael Kan, PCMAG, 26 Feb. 2025

This supersized version sports a clamshell design and mesh dividers separating the two main compartments. —Drew Zieff, Outside Online, 8 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1520, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for clamshell

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• cogswell
• compel
• dispel

Kids Definition

clamshell

noun

clam·​shell ˈklam-ˌshel 

: the shell of a clam