Wentletrap — Wen tle*trap , n. [D. wenteltrap a winding staircase; cf. G. wendeltreppe.] [Obs.] Any one of numerous species of elegant, usually white, marine shells of the genus Scalaria, especially {Scalaria pretiosa}, which was formerly highly valued;… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
wentletrap — [went′ l trap΄] n. [Du wenteltrap, lit., a winding staircase < wentel, a winding, akin to wenden (see WEND) + trap, stair: see TRAP1] any of a family (Epitoniidae) of marine gastropod mollusks usually enclosed in a white, spiral shell … English World dictionary
Wentletrap — Taxobox name = Wentletrap image caption = Two shells of Epitonium humphreysii , Humphrey s wentletrap regnum = Animalia phylum = Mollusca classis = Gastropoda subclassis = Orthogastropoda superordo = Caenogastropoda ordo = Sorbeoconcha subordo =… … Wikipedia
wentletrap — Scalaria Sca*la ri*a, n. [L., flight of steps.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of marine gastropods of the genus {Scalaria}, or family {Scalarid[ae]}, having elongated spiral turreted shells, with rounded whorls, usually crossed by ribs… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
wentletrap — noun Etymology: Dutch wenteltrap winding stair, from Middle Dutch wendeltrappe, from wendel turning + trappe stairs Date: 1758 any of a family (Epitoniidae) of marine snails with usually white shells; also one of the shells … New Collegiate Dictionary
wentletrap — n. marine gastropod having a white spiraled shell … English contemporary dictionary
wentletrap — [ wɛnt(ə)ltrap] noun a marine mollusc with a tall spiral shell of many whorls. [Clathrus clathrus and other species.] Origin C18: from Du. wenteltrap, lit. winding stair … English new terms dictionary
wentletrap — wen·tle·trap … English syllables
wentletrap — wen•tle•trap [[t]ˈwɛn tlˌtræp[/t]] n. ivt any of various marine gastropods of the family Epitoniidae, typically white with sharply defined axial ridges • Etymology: 1750–60; < D wenteltrap, earlier wendeltrap spiral staircase =wend(en) to turn … From formal English to slang
wentletrap — /ˈwɛntltræp/ (say wentltrap) noun any of the handsome, usually white, spiral shelled marine gastropods constituting the genus Scalaria or the family Scalariidae. {Dutch wenteltrap winding stair, spiral shell} …
