eggshell

English

eggshell from a chicken egg
In the springtime you might find the eggshell from a robin that has recently hatched.
The eggshell is no match for this baby crocodile who is hatching.

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”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɛɡʃɛl/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)

Noun

eggshell (countable and uncountable, plural eggshells)

  1. The shell around an egg.
  2. A pale off-white colour, like that of the eggshell of many chickens.
    eggshell:  
    Coordinate term: robin's-egg blue

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

eggshell (comparative more eggshell, superlative most eggshell)

  1. Of a pale yellowish-whitish colour, like that of the eggshell.
    • 1959 January, “Single-Unit Diesel Railcars for the Western Region”, in Railway Magazine, page 57:
      The ceiling panels are in off-white eggshell semi-matt finish.
  2. Exhibiting the thinness, translucency or near-transparency, and fragility of an eggshell.
    eggshell porcelain
  3. Very matt, having a low reflexivity, like an eggshell.
    This clear varnish is available in gloss, matt and eggshell finishes.

Translations

See also

  • Appendix:Colors

Further reading

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