'hard-shell clam' definitions:

Atlantic coast round clams with hard shells; large clams usually used for chowders or other clam dishes [syn: quahaug, quahog, hard-shell clam, round clam]

An edible American clam; the heavy shells were used as money by some American Indians [syn: quahog, quahaug, hard- shell clam, hard clam, round clam, Venus mercenaria, Mercenaria mercenaria]