shellback

noun

shell·​back ˈshel-ˌbak How to pronounce shellback (audio)
1
: an old or veteran sailor
2
: a person who has crossed the equator and been initiated in the traditional ceremony

Examples of shellback 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.
That enabled all those aboard who had never done so — about 2,800 of us pollywogs — to later be initiated into the Ancient Order of the Deep by becoming shellbacks, which for me personally was the greatest morale boost of my entire time in uniform. — Roger Archibald, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2026 This all-weather set includes two spacious shellback counter-height chairs paired with a coordinating connecting table. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shellback was in 1853

Rhymes for shellback

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Browse Nearby Words

shellapple
shellback
shellbark
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Cite this Entry

“Shellback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shellback. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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