Definition of EGGSHELL

eggshell

Plural: eggshells

Noun

  • The thin, hard outer covering of a bird's egg.
  • the exterior covering of a bird's egg
  • The shell around an egg.
  • A pale off-white colour, like that of the eggshell of many chickens.

Adj

  • Of a pale yellowish-whitish colour, like that of the eggshell.
  • Exhibiting the thinness, translucency or near-transparency, and fragility of an eggshell.
  • Very matt, having a low reflexivity, like an eggshell.

Examples

  • eggshell porcelain
  • The integrity of his game plan was as fragile as EGGSHELL after his first move.
  • This clear varnish is available in gloss, matt and eggshell finishes.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English eggeshell, ege schelle, egg-shel, egg shelle (also as Middle English eye schell, ey-schel, ey-schelle), partially continuing Old English ǣġsċill, ǣġsċyll (“eggshell”), equivalent to egg + shell. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Oaierskil (“eggshell”), Dutch eierschaal (“eggshell”), German Eierschale (“eggshell”), Danish æggeskal (“eggshell”), Swedish äggskal (“eggshell”).

Synonyms

shell

Scrabble Score: 13

eggshell: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
eggshell: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
eggshell: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 16

eggshell: valid Words With Friends Word