snail shell etymology

Etymology:

• Snail:
  • From Middle English "snayl," from Old English "snægl," from Proto-Germanic "snaglaz," from Proto-Indo-European "sneg-," meaning "to creep."
• Shell:
  • From Old English "sċell," from Proto-West Germanic "skalja," from Proto-Germanic "skala," meaning "hard covering."

Meaning and Origin:

A snail shell is the hard, spiral-shaped protective structure that houses the body of a snail. It is composed mainly of calcium carbonate and is secreted by the snail's mantle tissue. The shape and size of the shell vary widely among different snail species.

The word "snail shell" has been used in the English language since at least the 12th century. The term "shell" originally referred to any hard covering, such as the protective exoskeletons of marine animals or the shells of nuts. Over time, the term became specifically associated with the protective structures of snails and other mollusks.

snail shell relate terms

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