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clamshell

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clamshell

Where it comes from

From clam + shell.

noun clamshells

  1. The shell of a clam.
  2. Any object that, in (literal or figurative) resemblance to the shell of a clam, has a hinge on one edge and two surfaces that close together. You'll find a mix among clamshell laptops for strong laps, lunchboxes, and sewing-machine configurations; the latter two designs typically have detachable keyboards.
  3. A dredging bucket with hinges like the shell of a clam. The wall has been constructed one panel at a time by a machine which uses a clamshell bucket to excavate straight down to a depth of 30 metres. […] Specialised long-reach excavators with a clamshell grab then reach though the openings to lift the spoil to the surface, which is then deposited in arti
  4. In food service, the closing box (usually styrofoam but sometimes cardboard) given to consumers with takeout food.
  5. A hinged case for a video tape, cassette tape, or video game cartridge.
  6. US, dated, derogatory, slang A person's mouth. Shut your clamshell!
  7. attributive, often Any object with some other resemblance to either one or both halves of the shell of a clam.
  8. attributive, often An amphitheater, especially an outdoor amphitheater; the semi-circular acoustic backdrop behind and above the performers.

    Similar: bandshell

verb clamshells · clamshelling · clamshelled

  1. To deform a die in a shape resembling the shell of a clam, as a result of uneven extrusion pressure. Although it produces a nonuniform pressure drop across the die and thus causes nonuniform flow through the die lip, the distribution of the melt does not produce die distortion of ^([sic]) clamshelling.
  2. To dig out by means of a clamshell (dredging bucket). The additional handling that it would get by the canal would be: One dumping from the pockets into the canal barge, one clamshelling out of the canal barge, and one dumping onto the dock.
  3. To compress or flatten underwater debris so as to avoid blocking a channel. In the past, when a boat sank and was judged unfit for salvage, the Coast Guard 'clamshelled' it. That is, they broke it up in order to flatten it as much as possible so it wouldn't obstruct river traffic.
  4. ambitransitive To open or close by means of a hinge, similar to the way a clamshell opens and closes. To avoid getting clamshelled, first check the seat pins, then climb in before you pin the canopy.

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MLA

"clamshell." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/clamshell. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

clamshell. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/clamshell

Chicago

"clamshell." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/clamshell.

BibTeX
@misc{clamshell_2026,
  title = {clamshell},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/clamshell},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}