stiff-shelled
|stiff/shelled|
B2
/stɪf-ʃɛld/
hard outer covering
Etymology
Etymology Information
'stiff-shelled' originates from the combination of 'stiff' meaning 'rigid' and 'shelled' meaning 'having a shell'.
Historical Evolution
The term 'stiff-shelled' evolved from the Old English word 'stif' meaning 'rigid' and 'scell' meaning 'shell'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'having a rigid outer layer', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having a hard or rigid outer covering.
The stiff-shelled turtle was difficult to crack open.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/19 19:11