scallop Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun one of a series of rounded projections (or the notches between them) formed by curves along an edge (as the edge of a leaf or piece of cloth or the margin of a shell or a shriveled red blood cell observed in a hypertonic solution etc.)
    crenel; crenation; crenelle; crenature.
  2. noun edible muscle of mollusks having fan-shaped shells; served broiled or poached or in salads or cream sauces
    scollop; escallop.
  3. noun thin slice of meat (especially veal) usually fried or broiled
    escallop; cutlet; scollop.
  4. noun edible marine bivalve having a fluted fan-shaped shell that swim by expelling water from the shell in a series of snapping motions
    scollop; escallop.
  5. verb decorate an edge with scallops
    • the dress had a scalloped skirt
  6. verb bake in a sauce, milk, etc., often with breadcrumbs on top
    escallop.
  7. verb form scallops in
    scollop.
    • scallop the meat
  8. verb fish for scallops
    scollop.
  9. verb shape or cut in scallops
    scollop.
    • scallop the hem of the dress

WordNet

Scal"lop noun
Etymology
OF. escalope a shell, probably of German or Dutch origin, and akin to E. scale of a fish; cf. D. schelp shell. See Scale of a fish, and cf. Escalop.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of marine bivalve mollusks of the genus Pecten and allied genera of the family Pectinidæ. The shell is usually radially ribbed, and the edge is therefore often undulated in a characteristic manner. The large adductor muscle of some the species is much used as food. One species (Vola Jacobæus) occurs on the coast of Palestine, and its shell was formerly worn by pilgrims as a mark that they had been to the Holy Land. Called also fan shell. See Pecten, 2. ✍ The common edible scallop of the Eastern United States is Pecten irradians; the large sea scallop, also used as food, is P. Clontonius, or tenuicostastus.
  2. One of series of segments of circles joined at their extremities, forming a border like the edge or surface of a scallop shell.
  3. One of the shells of a scallop; also, a dish resembling a scallop shell.
Scal"lop transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Scalloped ; present participle & verbal noun Scalloping
Definitions
  1. To mark or cut the edge or border of into segments of circles, like the edge or surface of a scallop shell. See Scallop, n., 2.
  2. (Cookery) To bake in scallop shells or dishes; to prepare with crumbs of bread or cracker, and bake. See Scalloped oysters, below.

Webster 1913