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

The snuffbox is the most widespread of the Epioblasma genus of mussels. —Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 15 Aug. 2024

Neanderthals living in the cave of Figueira Brava, in Portugal, ate shark alongside crab and mussels a hundred thousand years ago. —Katherine Rundell, The New Yorker, 29 July 2024

But the real standout of this store is its seafood section, which sells dozens of varieties of whole and filleted fish, as well as king crabs, snow crabs and several types of mussels and clams. —Reia Li, The Arizona Republic, 23 July 2024

Instead, the company that designed the track for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Mondo, teamed up with a fisher’s cooperative to gather shells of bivalve mollusks from the Mediterranean Sea, such as mussels and clams, which are rich in the material. —Jorge Garay, WIRED, 30 July 2024

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

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