helmet shell

helmet shell
1. a predatory marine gastropod of the family Cassidae, characterized by a thick, heavy shell with a broadened outer lip.
2. the shell of this animal, often used for making cameos.
[1745-55]

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▪ gastropod family
 any marine snail of the family Cassidae (subclass Prosobranchia, class Gastropoda), characterized by a large, thick shell with a shieldlike inner lip. An example is the 18-centimetre (7-inch) king helmet (Cassis tuberosa) of the Caribbean.

      Cameos are carved from helmet shells. Smaller, more rounded cassids (Phalium) are called bonnet shells (bonnet shell).

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Helmet shell — Helmet Hel met, n. [OF. helmet, a dim of helme, F. heaume; of Teutonic origin; cf. G. helm, akin to AS. & OS. helm, D. helm, helmet, Icel. hj[=a]lmr, Sw. hjelm, Dan. hielm, Goth. hilms; and prob. from the root of AS. helan to hide, to hele; cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • helmet shell — noun 1. : a gastropod mollusk of the family Cassididae 2. : the thick walled shell of the helmet shell often used for cameos * * * 1. a predatory marine gastropod of the family Cassidae, characterized by a thick, heavy shell with a broadened… …   Useful english dictionary

  • helmet-shell — helˈmet shell noun A gastropod of the genus Cassis, having a thick heavy shell with bold ridges • • • Main Entry: ↑helmet …   Useful english dictionary

  • helmet shell — hel′met shell n. 1) ivt a predatory marine gastropod of the family Cassidae, characterized by a thick heavy shell with a broadened outer lip 2) ivt the shell of this animal, used for making cameos • Etymology: 1745–55 …   From formal English to slang

  • helmet shell —   Pū, olē …   English-Hawaiian dictionary

  • Helmet — Hel met, n. [OF. helmet, a dim of helme, F. heaume; of Teutonic origin; cf. G. helm, akin to AS. & OS. helm, D. helm, helmet, Icel. hj[=a]lmr, Sw. hjelm, Dan. hielm, Goth. hilms; and prob. from the root of AS. helan to hide, to hele; cf. also… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Helmet beetle — Helmet Hel met, n. [OF. helmet, a dim of helme, F. heaume; of Teutonic origin; cf. G. helm, akin to AS. & OS. helm, D. helm, helmet, Icel. hj[=a]lmr, Sw. hjelm, Dan. hielm, Goth. hilms; and prob. from the root of AS. helan to hide, to hele; cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Helmet shrike — Helmet Hel met, n. [OF. helmet, a dim of helme, F. heaume; of Teutonic origin; cf. G. helm, akin to AS. & OS. helm, D. helm, helmet, Icel. hj[=a]lmr, Sw. hjelm, Dan. hielm, Goth. hilms; and prob. from the root of AS. helan to hide, to hele; cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shell —   1. Marine shell. Pūpū (see Haw. Eng. entry and entries that follow it), iwi.   Also: ākōlea (pipipi ākōlea, kōlea), ālealea, aoa (maka aoa), apuhihi, āunauna, hailimoa, hau, hīhīwai (hapawai), hūai, kahelelani, kauna oa (kio, una oa), koholua,… …   English-Hawaiian dictionary

  • helmet — noun 1》 a hard or padded protective hat. 2》 Botany the arched upper part (galea) of the corolla in some flowers. 3》 (also helmet shell) a predatory mollusc with a squat heavy shell, living in tropical and temperate seas. [Family Cassidae.]… …   English new terms dictionary

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