Found 1 items, similar to M Helix.
English → English (gcide) Definition: M Helix Snail \Snail\ (sn[=a]l), n. [OE. snaile, AS. sn[ae]gel, snegel, sn[ae]gl; akin to G. schnecke, OHG. snecko, Dan. snegl, Icel. snigill.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) (a) Any one of numerous species of terrestrial air-breathing gastropods belonging to the genus Helix and many allied genera of the family Helicid[ae]. They are abundant in nearly all parts of the world except the arctic regions, and feed almost entirely on vegetation; a land snail. (b) Any gastropod having a general resemblance to the true snails, including fresh-water and marine species. See Pond snail, under Pond, and Sea snail. [1913 Webster] 2. Hence, a drone; a slow-moving person or thing. [1913 Webster] 3. (Mech.) A spiral cam, or a flat piece of metal of spirally curved outline, used for giving motion to, or changing the position of, another part, as the hammer tail of a striking clock. [1913 Webster] 4. A tortoise; in ancient warfare, a movable roof or shed to protect besiegers; a testudo. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] They had also all manner of gynes [engines] . . . that needful is [in] taking or sieging of castle or of city, as snails, that was naught else but hollow pavises and targets, under the which men, when they fought, were heled [protected], . . . as the snail is in his house; therefore they cleped them snails. --Vegetius (Trans.). [1913 Webster] 5. (Bot.) The pod of the sanil clover. [1913 Webster] Ear snail, Edible snail, Pond snail, etc. See under Ear, Edible, etc. Snail borer (Zo["o]l.), a boring univalve mollusk; a drill. Snail clover (Bot.), a cloverlike plant (Medicago scuttellata , also, M. Helix); -- so named from its pods, which resemble the shells of snails; -- called also snail trefoil, snail medic, and beehive. Snail flower (Bot.), a leguminous plant (Phaseolus Caracalla ) having the keel of the carolla spirally coiled like a snail shell. Snail shell (Zo["o]l.), the shell of snail. Snail trefoil. (Bot.) See Snail clover, above. [1913 Webster]