[whelk] n [ME welke, fr. OE weoloc; akin to MD willoc whelk and perh. to L volvere to turn--more at voluble] (bef. 12c): any of numerous large marine snails (as of the genus Buccinum); esp: one (B. undatum) much used as food in Europe
[2]whelk n [ME whelke, fr. OE hwylca, fr. hwelian to suppurate] (bef. 12c): papule, pustule