littleneck

noun

lit·​tle·​neck ˈli-tᵊl-ˌnek How to pronounce littleneck (audio)
: a young quahog suitable to be eaten raw

called also littleneck clam

Examples of littleneck in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Everything is cooked to order, with lobsters being the star of this show, alongside a raw bar of oysters, littlenecks, and cherrystone clams. Michelle Gross, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2023 Mussels and littleneck clams are also offered at special pricing. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 17 Sep. 2022

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

Word History

Etymology

Littleneck Bay, Long Island, New York

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of littleneck was in 1883

Dictionary Entries Near littleneck

Cite this Entry

“Littleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/littleneck. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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