whelk

¹

[hwelk, welk]

noun

1. any of several large, spiral-shelled, marine gastropods of the family Buccinidae, especially Buccinum undatum, that is used for food in Europe.

whelk

²

[welk, hwelk]

noun

1. a pimple or pustule.

whelk

¹

/ wɛlk /

noun

1. any carnivorous marine gastropod mollusc of the family Buccinidae, of coastal waters and intertidal regions, having a strong snail-like shell

whelk

²

/ wɛlk /

noun

1. a raised lesion on the skin; wheal

Other Word Forms

• whelky adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of whelk¹

before 900; late Middle English, aspirated variant of Middle English welk, Old English weoloc

Origin of whelk²

before 1000; Middle English whelke, Old English hwylca, hwelca; akin to wheal

Word History and Origins

Origin of whelk¹

Old English weoloc; related to Middle Dutch willok, Old Norse vil entrails

Origin of whelk²

Old English hwylca, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

Ben Cooper has been a fisherman in Whitstable on the north Kent coast since 1997, and relies heavily on the common whelk, a type of sea snail.

From BBC

“The less we have to talk about that, the less we have to think about it,” said Bruno Hecquet sombrely, as he unloaded boxes of fresh whelks on the quayside.

From BBC

"Butterfly blenny naturally choose abandoned whelk shells as their home but it seems they can get creative," she said..

From BBC

It found the boat had been modified and had 4.6 tonnes of whelks and whelk pots on board.

From BBC

A pair of cases are devoted to items from the Nanticoke people, including a wampum belt and necklace featuring whelk and clam shells and a toy canoe crafted from pine needles and sinew.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• clam 
• conch 
• crawfish 
• crustacean 
• lobster 
• mollusk 
• mussel 
• oyster 
• prawn 
• scallop 
• shrimp 
• snail