scallop

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
scallop /ˈskɒləp, ˈskaləp/

▶noun

• 1 an edible bivalve mollusc with a ribbed fan-shaped shell, which swims by rapidly opening and closing the shell valves. [Chlamys, Pecten, and other genera.]

  ■ a scallop shell or similarly shaped dish used for baking or serving food.

• 2 each of a series of convex rounded projections forming an ornamental edging in material, knitting, etc.

• 3 another term for escalope.

▶verb (scallops, scalloping, scalloped)

• 1 (usu. as adj. scalloped) ornament with scallops.

  ■ shape in the form of a scallop shell.

• 2 (usu. as noun scalloping) N. Amer. gather or dredge for scallops.

• 3 bake with milk or a sauce.

– derivatives
scalloper noun.

– origin ME: shortening of OFr. escalope, prob. of Gmc origin.