SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

surf clam

noun

Updated on: 5 Apr 2018

Definition of surf clam

: any of various typically rather large surf-dwelling edible clams (family Mactridae); especially : a common clam (Spisula solidissima) of the Atlantic coast chiefly from Nova Scotia to South Carolina

Recent Examples of surf clam from the Web

This region is home to commercially important fishes, as well as wild stocks of quahogs, scallops, and surf clams that can't swim away from growing acidic waters.

— eric niiler, WIRED, "Ocean Acidification Could Be a Net Positive for Some Fish," 30 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'surf clam.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of surf clam

1884

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See words that rhyme with surf clam Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about surf clam

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