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countneck

Countneck is a US term for a very small hard clam — specifically a quahog clam of a size grade too small for standard littleneck classification.

ˈkaʊntˌnɛk146 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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#1·Apr 28, 2026

Countneck is a US term for a very small hard clam — specifically a quahog clam of a size grade too small for standard littleneck classification. The term is highly specific to the shellfish trade, particularly on the northeast US coast where hard clams are commercially harvested and graded by size. Of narrow specialist interest; it sits in the vocabulary of fishmongers, clam diggers, and seafood industry workers rather than general slang.

The restaurant used countnecks for the chowder base and saved the larger cherrystones for the raw bar.
Origin: Industry sizing term for hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria) below the 'littleneck' grade; precise etymology of 'count' prefix unclear but may relate to counting or size count. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora (model-assisted, hedged).
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#2·Apr 27, 2026

(US) A very small hard clam.

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