English Explanatory Dictionary

mussel

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any of several groups of bivalve shellfish with elongated, asymmetrical shells.
  2. A freshwater mussel, usually edible, of the order Unionida in subclass Palaeoheterodonta.
  3. A saltwater mussel, usually edible, of the order Mytilida in subclass Pteriomorphia.
  4. Any of certain other bivalves of somewhat similar appearance, such as the zebra mussel and quagga mussel of the family Dreissenidae in subclass Heterodonta.

Pronunciation

/ˈmʌsəl/ En-us-mussel.ogg

Word forms

mussel mussels

Etymology

From Middle English muscle (“mussel”), from Old English muscle, from Proto-West Germanic *muskulā, from Late Latin muscula, from Latin mūsculus (“mussel, muscle”, literally “little mouse”). Doublet of muscle.

Related words

mouse

Derived words

arc-form pearly mussel arcmussel Australian mussel bay mussel bearded mussel black mussel blue mussel boring mussel butterfly mussel California mussel Chilean mussel common mussel date mussel duck mussel dwarf wedgemussel fan mussel foolish mussel freshwater pearl mussel horse mussel Korean mussel Magellan mussel Mediterranean mussel mussel bill mussel blenny Musselburgh mussel crab musselcracker mussel-crusher musselcrusher mussel digger mussel scale Musselshell mussel shrimp mussle duck pearl mussel pearly mussel quagga mussel ribbed mussel river mussel robomussel swan mussel zebra mussel
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