: any of a family (Trionychidae) of freshwater carnivorous turtles that have sharp claws and mandibles and a flat round shell covered with soft leathery skin instead of with horny plates

called also soft-shelled turtle

Illustration of softshell

Illustration of softshell
: having a soft or fragile shell especially as a result of recent shedding
soft-shell crabs

Examples of softshell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Testers appreciated the ability to secure the inner shoe without having to dig inside the shell, thanks to an external BOA dial that tightens and loosens with precise clicks, and found the water-resistant softshell gaiter cut cold, biting winds and shed moisture. Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 20 Dec. 2024 The water- and wind-resistant, breathable softshell exterior feels similar to other lightweight glove fabrics but did a better job warding off wet snow and freezing temps. Mark Eller, Outside Online, 15 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The father is also now pushing for players to receive Guardian Caps, soft-shell covers used on helmets that can help prevent head injuries. Mark Puleo, The Athletic, 27 Aug. 2024 Get The Recipe 57 of 60 Cornmeal-Crusted Soft-Shell Crab Sandwiches Ready in 30 minutes Take advantage of soft-shell crab season with these decadent sandwiches. Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for softshell 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of softshell was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near softshell

soft serve

softshell

soft-shell

Cite this Entry

“Softshell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/softshell. Accessed 29 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

soft-shell

adjective
ˈsȯf(t)-ˌshel
variants or soft-shelled
-ˈsheld
: having a soft or fragile shell especially as a result of recent shedding
soft-shell crabs
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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