noun
a genus of Veneridae
• Syn: ↑genus Mercenaria
• Hypernyms: ↑mollusk genus
• Member Holonyms: ↑Veneridae, ↑family Veneridae
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\\ˌmərsənˈa(a)rēə\ nounUsage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, feminine of mercenarius mercenary; from the use of the shells of Mercenaria mercenaria as wampum beads by American Indians — more at mercenary
: a genus of clams (family Veneridae) including the quahog
Useful english dictionary. 2012.