hard clam
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A species of edible clam native to the Atlantic coast of North America: The "hard clam" refers specifically to the bivalve mollusk Mercenaria mercenaria, known for its thick, hard, rounded shells.
- A historical commodity: The shells of this clam were used by some Native American peoples as a form of currency or ceremonial object.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- We collected hard clams from the sandy bottom of the bay.
- The archaeological site contained fragments of hard clam shells, evidence of ancient trade.
Advanced Usage
- "Hard clam fishery": Refers to the industry or activity of harvesting this specific species of clam.
- Regulations are in place to manage the sustainable hard clam fishery.
Variants and Related Words
- Quahog (n): A common regional name for the hard clam, especially used in the Northeastern United States.
- They served stuffed quahogs as an appetizer.
- Mercenaria mercenaria (n): The scientific (Latin) name for the hard clam species.
- Cherrystone (n): A size classification for a medium-sized hard clam.
- Littleneck (n): A size classification for a small, young hard clam.
Synonyms
- Round clam: Another common name referencing the shape of its shell.
- Northern quahog: A name used to distinguish it from other similar species.
Related Phrases
- Clam digging: The activity of harvesting clams, which can include hard clams.
- We went clam digging at low tide and found several hard clams.
Noun
- an edible American clam; the heavy shells were used as money by some American Indians