How to pronounce shellback
American English pronunciation
SHEL-bak
- IPA
- /ˈʃɛlˌbæk/
- Syllables
- SHEL · bak (2 syllables, stress on the 1st)
Love words? Try a free round: no sign-up, about two minutes. Play free
What shellback means
A seasoned sailor who has crossed the equator
In a sentence: After the ship crossed the equator, the old crew welcomed Sam as a brand-new shellback.
Where it comes from: It's made from shell and back, an old nickname for a tough sailor who had spent years at sea.
Can you spot the real meaning? Try one
Loading a word…
Can you spot the real meaning? Play Wordfib
One free round, no sign-up. Wordfib shows a word and four meanings: one real, three fibs.