wentletrap

noun

wen·​tle·​trap ˈwen-tᵊl-ˌtrap How to pronounce wentletrap (audio)
: any of a family (Epitoniidae) of marine snails with usually white shells
also : one of the shells

Illustration of wentletrap

Illustration of wentletrap

Word History

Etymology

Dutch wenteltrap winding stair, from Middle Dutch wendeltrappe, from wendel turning + trappe stairs

First Known Use

1758, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wentletrap was in 1758

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wentletrap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wentletrap. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.

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