A scallop is a sea animal with a fan-shaped shell, often eaten as seafood. The word can also refer to the shell’s curved edge shape used in designs.
From Old French “escalope” meaning “shell,” likely from a Germanic root meaning “shell” or “husk.” The idea of the curved, ridged shell gave rise to design meanings.
The shell shape of scallops became so iconic that people started using the word for decorative edges on clothes, buildings, and even potatoes. The food on your plate helped name a whole design style.
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