shellfish
UK: ˈʃɛlfɪʃ | US: ˈʃɛlˌfɪʃ
n. An aquatic animal, especially a mollusk or crustacean, that has a shell.
n. (Culinary) The meat of such animals, often used as food.
The word "shellfish" is a compound of "shell" (from Old English "sciell," meaning a hard protective covering) and "fish" (from Old English "fisc," originally referring broadly to aquatic creatures). Over time, "fish" narrowed to vertebrates with gills, while "shellfish" became the term for shelled invertebrates like mollusks and crustaceans. The compound reflects the creature's defining feature—its protective shell.
The restaurant specializes in fresh shellfish like oysters and crabs.
She avoids shellfish due to a severe allergy.
Coastal tribes harvested shellfish for both food and tools.
The biologist studied the impact of pollution on local shellfish populations.
Lobster is considered a luxury shellfish in many cultures.