English Explanatory Dictionary

turban shell

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A marine gastropod of the family Turbinidae, or the shell thereof.

Word forms

turban shell turban shells

Etymology

From a reanalysis or misconstruction of translingual Turbinidae (with the root Turbo), from a similar pronunciation. To demonstrate (in General American): Turbinidae as /tɝˈbɪ.nɪ.deɪ/ and turban as /ˈtɝ.bən/; as /ɪ/ and /ə/ are interchangeable in certain words in General American, especially before consonants like /m/ and /n/. It has been reinterpreted from Latin turbo (“whirlwind”, from the shells' twisting shapes) to English turban, due to a perceived similarity to the ways turbans are worn and the shape of the shells of these snails.

Synonyms

turban snail
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