venus mercenaria

Venus mercenaria
    n 1: an edible American clam; the heavy shells were used as
         money by some American Indians [syn: {quahog}, {quahaug},
         {hard-shell clam}, {hard clam}, {round clam}, {Venus
         mercenaria}, {Mercenaria mercenaria}]
    

Quahog \Qua"hog\, Quahaug \Qua"haug\, n. [Abbrev. fr.
   Narragansett Indian poqua[^u]hock.] (Zool.)
   An American market clam ({Venus mercenaria}). It is sold in
   large quantities, and is highly valued as food. Called also
   {round clam}, and {hard clam}.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: The name is also applied to other allied species, as
         {Venus Mortoni} of the Gulf of Mexico.
         [1913 Webster] Quaigh
    

Clam \Clam\ (kl[a^]m), n. [Cf. {Clamp}, {Clam}, v. t.,
   {Clammy}.]
   1. (Zool.) A bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those
      that are edible; as, the long clam ({Mya arenaria}), the
      quahog or round clam ({Venus mercenaria}), the sea clam or
      hen clam ({Spisula solidissima}), and other species of the
      United States. The name is said to have been given
      originally to the {Tridacna gigas}, a huge East Indian
      bivalve.
      [1913 Webster]

            You shall scarce find any bay or shallow shore, or
            cove of sand, where you may not take many clampes,
            or lobsters, or both, at your pleasure. --Capt. John
                                                  Smith (1616).
      [1913 Webster]

            Clams, or clamps, is a shellfish not much unlike a
            cockle; it lieth under the sand.      --Wood (1634).
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Ship Carp.) Strong pinchers or forceps.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. pl. (Mech.) A kind of vise, usually of wood.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Blood clam}. See under {Blood}.
      [1913 Webster]