a type of ornamentation composed of patterns of shells and often used to decorate walls
2. nautical
a condition in which shells adhere to the bottom of a ship
shellwork in American English
(ˈʃelˌwɜːrk)
noun
decorative work composed of seashells
an elaborate picture frame decorated with shellwork
Word origin
[1605–15; shell + work]This word is first recorded in the period 1605–15. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: classic, ferrule, pivot, series, surface
Examples of 'shellwork' in a sentence
shellwork
Rooms come with handsome chimneypieces and exquisite shellwork, and there is a turret-top eyrie for ship-watching.