Definition

1. Noun:

   • A marine bivalve mollusk: An edible sea creature with a fluted, fan-shaped shell that swims by snapping its shell closed to expel water.
   • A thin slice of meat: A thin, typically circular piece of meat, often veal, that is usually fried or broiled.
   • The edible adductor muscle: The edible muscle of certain mollusks, especially the scallop, served cooked in various ways.

2. Verb:

   • To shape with a series of curves: To cut, shape, or decorate an edge with a series of semicircular curves, similar to the edge of a scallop shell.
   • To bake in a sauce, often with breadcrumbs: To prepare food, typically seafood, by baking it in a sauce.
   • To fish for scallops: To harvest scallops from the sea.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • We ordered scollop at the seafood restaurant. (We ordered the shellfish dish.)
  • The chef prepared a scollop of veal with herbs. (The chef prepared a thin slice of veal.)
• Verb:
  • She learned to scollop the fabric for a decorative hem. (She learned to cut the fabric with curved notches.)
  • They will scollop the fish with a creamy sauce. (They will bake the fish in a sauce.)

Advanced Usage

• "To scollop" food: This usage implies baking a dish, often with a topping, in a casserole or shell.
  • Her recipe says to scollop the potatoes with cheese and bake until golden.
• The verb form related to harvesting is less common but valid.
  • The fishermen went out early to scollop in the bay.

Variants and Related Words

• Scallop: This is the far more common and preferred modern spelling for all meanings of scollop. The words are interchangeable, but "scallop" is standard.
• Escallop: An archaic or alternative spelling, particularly for the verb meaning to bake in a sauce or the noun meaning a thin slice of meat.

Synonyms

• Noun (mollusk): Shellfish, bivalve.
• Noun (slice): Cutlet, escalope.
• Verb (shape): Notch, indent, serrate (in a curved pattern).
• Verb (cook): Bake, casserole.

Related Phrases

• Scalloped edge: A decorative border cut into a series of continuous curves.
  • The tablecloth had a beautiful scalloped edge.
• Scalloped potatoes: A dish of sliced potatoes baked in a sauce.
  • She made scalloped potatoes as a side dish. (Note: The common dish uses the "scallop" spelling.)

Notes on Usage

• The spelling scollop is considered a variant of the much more common scallop. In modern English, "scallop" is the standard spelling for the shellfish, the slice of meat, the decorative shape, and the cooking method.
• When encountering "scollop," it is typically understood to mean the same as "scallop." For clarity and contemporary usage, "scallop" is recommended.

Noun

1. edible marine bivalve having a fluted fan-shaped shell that swim by expelling water from the shell in a series of snapping motions
2. thin slice of meat (especially veal) usually fried or broiled
3. edible muscle of mollusks having fan-shaped shells; served broiled or poached or in salads or cream sauces

Verb

1. shape or cut in scallops
   • scallop the hem of the dress
2. fish for scallops
3. form scallops in
   • scallop the meat