mussel

noun

mus·​sel ˈmə-səl 

1

: a marine bivalve mollusk (especially genus Mytilus) usually having a dark elongated shell

2

: a freshwater bivalve mollusk (as of Unio, Anodonta, or related genera) that is especially abundant in rivers of the central U.S. and has a shell lined with mother-of-pearl

Examples of mussel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Start with the signature Pride of the Crowns salad or prime rib chili, then move into dishes like duck leg confit, mussel and shrimp piccata or sweet potato risotto. —Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026

The jampong was abundant with calamari, octopus and mussels, if a little overboiled for my tastes. —Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026

For this Design District restaurant, consulting chef Quiñones-Pittman was an excellent partner to create dishes like mussels with chicharron-leek butter and pulpo al pastor. —Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026

Our founder and the rapper started their tasting with a king crab taco (which Snoop compared to Taco Bell), bread enriched with purple carrots, and mussels with calamari. —Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English muscle, from Old English muscelle, from Vulgar Latin *muscula, from Latin musculus muscle, mussel

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mussel

• blue mussel
• quagga mussel
• zebra mussel

Rhymes for mussel

• bustle
• hustle
• muscle
• russel
• rustle
• trussell
• tussle
• mofussil

Kids Definition

mussel

noun

mus·​sel ˈməs-əl 

1

: any of various edible saltwater mollusks with a long dark hinged double shell

2

: any of numerous freshwater mollusks of rivers of the central U.S. whose hinged double shells are lined with mother-of-pearl