cherrystone

Thân thiện

A chef places a fresh cherrystone on a bed of ice.

Definition

Noun: 1. A type of hard-shell clam: Specifically, a "cherrystone" is a size classification for the quahog clam (Mercenaria mercenaria). It is larger than a littleneck clam but smaller than a full-grown chowder clam. 2. The shell of this clam: The term can also refer to the hard, rounded shell of the clam itself.

Usage and Examples

• As a food item:
  • The recipe calls for twelve cherrystones to be used on the half shell.
  • He prefers cherrystone clams for his pasta because they are tender and not too large.
• Referring to the shell or the animal:
  • We collected several beautiful cherrystones on the beach.
  • The cherrystone is a common bivalve in these coastal waters.

Advanced Usage

• In culinary contexts: The name "cherrystone" is primarily used in commerce and cooking to indicate a specific market size for hard clams. They are often served raw on the half-shell, baked, or used in cooked dishes where a tender, medium-sized clam is desired.

Variants and Related Words

• Quahog (noun): The general species name for the hard-shell clam. "Cherrystone" is a size category within quahogs.
• Littleneck (noun): A smaller size classification of the same quahog clam.
• Chowder clam (noun): A larger, older quahog, typically used chopped in chowders or soups because it is tougher.

Synonyms

• Hard-shell clam
• Quahog (when referring to the species or general type)

Notes on Meaning

The word "cherrystone" almost exclusively refers to the clam and its shell. It is not typically used as a compound word. It should not be confused with the pit (stone) of a cherry fruit, which is a separate concept.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a half-grown quahog
2. small quahog larger than a littleneck; eaten raw or cooked as in e.g. clams casino

Từ đồng nghĩa

• cherrystone clam