Dictionary > Snail

Snail

snail
1. (Science: zoology) Any one of numerous species of terrestrial airbreathing gastropods belonging to the genus helix and many allied genera of the family Helicidae. They are abundant in nearly all parts of the world except the arctic regions, and feed almost entirely on vegetation; a land sanil. Any gastropod having a general resemblance to the true snails, including fresh water and marine species. See pond snail, under Pond, and sea snail.
2. Hence, a drone; a slow-moving person or thing.
3. (Science: mechanics) A spiral cam, or a flat piece of metal of spirally curved outline, used for giving motion to, or changing the position of, another part, as the hammer tail of a striking clock.
4. A tortoise; in ancient warfare, a movable roof or shed to protect besiegers; a testudo. They had also all manner of gynes engines . . . That needful is taking or sieging of castle or of city, as snails, that was naught else but hollow pavises and targets, under the which men, when they fought, were heled protected, . . . As the snail is in his house; therefore they cleped them snails. (Vegetius (Trans))
5. (Science: botany) The pod of the sanil clover. Ear snail, edible snail, pond snail, etc. See Ear, Edible, etc.
(Science: zoology) Snail borer, a boring univalve mollusk; a drill.
(Science: botany) Snail clover See Snail clover, above.
Origin: OE. Snaile, AS. Sngel, snegel, sngl; akin to G. Schnecke, OHG. Snecko, Dan. Snegl, Icel. Snigill.


You will also like...

Pollution in Freshwater Ecosystems
Pollution in Freshwater Ecosystems

There are many environmental factors that arise due to the usage of water in one way or another and for every action tha..

Independent Assortment and Crossing Over
Independent Assortment and Crossing Over

This tutorial describes the independent assortment of chromosomes and crossing over as important events in meiosis. Read..

Darwin's Finches - Natural Selection
Darwin and Natural Selection

This tutorial investigates the genetic diversity in more detail. It also delineates how certain alleles are favored over..

Birth of a Human Baby
Birth of a Human Baby

Following nine months inside the mother's womb is the birth of the baby. Know the different stages of the birthing proce..

Protein (illustration)
Protein Variety

The sequence of amino acids determines the type of protein. Protein is synthesized according to the sequence of nucleoti..

An artist depiction of a Precambrian multicellular life form.
The Evolution of Cell Organelles

The nucleus containing the genetic material, DNA, and the mitochondria, well-identified as the "powerhouse of the cell",..