African snail

noun

: a large pulmonate land mollusk (Achatina fulica) introduced from the western coast of Africa into Ceylon, the East Indian region, and the Pacific Islands compare achatina

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of African snail was in 1859

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near African snail

Cite this Entry

“African snail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/African%20snail. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!