conch Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun any of various edible tropical marine gastropods of the genus Strombus having a brightly-colored spiral shell with large outer lip

WordNet

Conch noun
Etymology
L. concha, Gr. . See Coach, n.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) A name applied to various marine univalve shells; esp. to those of the genus Strombus, which are of large size. S. gigas is the large pink West Indian conch. The large king, queen, and cameo conchs are of the genus Cassis. See Cameo. ✍ The conch is sometimes used as a horn or trumpet, as in fogs at sea, or to call laborers from work.
  2. In works of art, the shell used by Tritons as a trumpet.
  3. One of the white natives of the Bahama Islands or one of their descendants in the Florida Keys; -- so called from the commonness of the conch there, or because they use it for food.
  4. (Arch.) See Concha, n.
  5. The external ear. See Concha, n., 2.

Webster 1913