I. ˈhw]elk, ]eu̇k also ˈw]\ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English wilke, welke, whelke, from Old English weoloc, wioloc; akin to Middle Dutch willoc, wilc, welc whelk, Old Norse vil intestines, Latin volvere to turn — more at voluble
1. : any of numerous large marine gastropod mollusks of the family Buccinidae: as
a. : a snail of the genus Buccinum ; especially : a large elongated snail ( B. undatum ) of both coasts of the Atlantic that is much used as food in Europe
b. : any of various No. American mollusks of the genus Busycon : winkle 2 — see red whelk
2. : any of various mollusks of families other than Buccinidae that resemble whelks — usually used with a qualifying term; compare dog whelk
[s]whelk.jpg[/s]
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to obtain or gather whelks
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English whelke, from Old English hwylca, from hwelian to suppurate, come to a head — more at wheal
1. : papule , pustule
2. : welt , wale , wheal