Illustration of scallop
- scallop 2a
1
a
: any of numerous marine bivalve lamellibranch mollusks (family Pectinidae) that have a radially ribbed shell with the edge undulated and that swim by opening and closing the valves
b
: the adductor muscle of a scallop as an article of food
2
a
: a valve or shell of a scallop
b
: a baking dish shaped like a valve of a scallop
3
: one of a continuous series of circle segments or angular projections forming a border (as on cloth or metal)
4
: pattypan
5
[French escalope, probably from Middle French, shell]
: a thin slice of boneless meat or fish
veal scallops
called also escalope
variants
or less commonly scollop
scalloped also scolloped; scalloping also scolloping; scallops also scollops
1
a
: to shape, cut, or finish in scallops
b
: to form scallops in
2
[from the use of a scallop shell as a baking dish]
: to bake in a sauce usually covered with seasoned bread or cracker crumbs
scalloped potatoes
: to gather or dredge scallops
Cite this Entry
“Scallop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scallop. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.
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