I. ˈskäləp, ˈskal- noun
also scol·lop ˈskäləp
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English scalop, from Middle French escalope shell, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch schelpe shell — more at scalp
1.
a. : any of many marine bivalve mollusks of the family Pectinidae that have the shell characteristically radially ribbed and the edge undulated, the mantle edges bearing well-developed ocelli, a single large adductor muscle which is esteemed a great delicacy and is the only part commonly used as food and that usually do not attach themselves but are able to swim by opening and closing the valves — see bay scallop , giant scallop
b. : the adductor muscle of scallop (as the bay scallop and giant scallop) cooked and served as food — usually used in plural
2. or scallop shell
a. : one of the valves of the shell of a scallop
b. : an object (as a baking dish) shaped like one of these valves
3.
a.
(1) : one of a usually continuous series of curves forming an edge or design (as on cloth, leather, or metal)
pillowcases with small scallops
gables trimmed with scallops
(2) : a small sharply defined curve especially in a series
sunken road winding in scallops — Ellen Glasgow
cigarettes traced little scallops in the darkness — Howard Hunt
rising and falling scallops of the waves — J.E.Macdonnell
b. : a row or design of scallops : scalloping
an edging consisting of small scallops
c. : a decorative motif in the form of a scallop shell : escallop
4. or scallop squash : cymling
5.
[French escalope — more at scallopini ]
: a thin slice of boneless meat
II. verb
also scollop “
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. or escallop
[ escallop from earlier escallop scallop shell, alteration (influenced by Middle French escalope shell) of scallop (I) ]
: to bake in a sauce usually covered with seasoned bread or cracker crumbs
scallop the potatoes
oysters scalloped
scalloped peaches
2.
a. : to shape, cut, or finish an edge or border in scallops
b. : to form scallops in
concentrated settlement scallops the eastern border of the country — P.E.James
intransitive verb
1. : to cook by scalloping
veal … tucked into the oven to scallop — T.H.Fielding
2. : to gather or dredge scallops