eggshell
noun
- protective exterior of an egg
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈɛɡʃɛl/
adj
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”).
- Of a pale yellowish-whitish colour, like that of the eggshell.
“The ceiling panels are in off-white eggshell semi-matt finish.”
- Exhibiting the thinness, translucency or near-transparency, and fragility of an eggshell.
“eggshell porcelain”
- Very matt, having a low reflexivity, like an eggshell.
“This clear varnish is available in gloss, matt and eggshell finishes.”
noun
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”).
- The shell around an egg.
“Like Egge-ſhels mou'd upon their Surges, crack'd / As eaſily ’gainſt our Rockes.”
- A pale off-white colour, like that of the eggshell of many chickens.