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

What followed was an idyllic few months spent picking mussels on the beach and taking boats out into the Celtic Sea to catch lobsters. — Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 6 Nov. 2026

Snow crab legs, green mussels and big shrimp boil are options for the Cajun side, while pho options include pho dac biet (a combination of beef cuts), pho tai san (seafood mix) and pho ga (tender chicken). — Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026

So that may translate into a mussel atop a smear of Malört cheese. — John Kessler, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

Crabs and mussels, prehistoric bugs, bits of seaweed, tiny minnows, they all get deposited, then stranded, in the cracks and crevices on top of these massive rocks. — Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 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