The hard outer shell of a clam made of two hinged halves that open and close; also used to describe anything shaped like this shell or that opens in two parts.
Compound of 'clam' (from Proto-Germanic *klam-, meaning to press) and 'shell,' referring to the distinctive two-part hinged covering of a clam.
Clamshells inspired the design of early flip phones in the 2000s because the hinged mechanism was familiar and satisfying to users—nature's engineering made technology feel intuitive.
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