geoduck
/ˈɡu.iˌdək/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 1.48 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The species of large saltwater clam Panopea generosa, native to the northeast Pacific coasts from Alaska to Washington State, distinguished by its deep burrowing and long unprotected siphon.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "Glycimeris generosa. Olympia, Washington Territory... The boys at Olympia call them ‘Geoducks’; they dig them on a certain sand bar at extreme low tide, and sell them to a merchant who ships them to Portland, Oreg... The boys inform me that the Indians on the Sound... dry them for food with the other clams."
- "I survey the ice-lined crates containing sea snails, rock cod, sea urchin and a Vancouver favorite, geoduck (pronounced gooey-duck)—a giant clam."
- "Alick Shaw... uses up to 14 kilograms of geoduck in chowder weekly..."
Etymology
From Lushootseed gʷidəq, variously understood as reference to its deep digging or resemblance to male genitalia. The unusual spelling of the first syllable is thought to represent editorial hypercorrection of forms with goe- &c. (probably under influence from the common prefix geo-), despite the earlier attestation of forms with geo-. The spelling pronunciation /ˈdʒiːəʊdʌk/ once listed in dictionaries is now considered nonstandard. The common spelling of the second syllable is under influence from duck, originally with reference to the mollusc's resemblance to the body and neck of a dead duck.
Word Breakdown
- Root: gʷidəq
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈɡu.iˌdək/
- British English: /ˈɡuː.iˌdʌk/
Usage
Inflected Forms
geoducks (plural)
geoduc (alternative)
geoduk (alternative)
goeduck (alternative)
goeduc (alternative)
goeduk (alternative)
goeyduck (alternative)
goeyduc (alternative)
goeyduk (alternative)
gooeduck (alternative)
gooeduc (alternative)
gooeyduck (alternative)
Synonyms
geoduck clam
king clam
elephant trunk clam
mirugai
mirukuigai