seed oyster
- noun
- /siːd ˈɔɪstər/
- Specialized
:
ostra semilla
- Most vessels were used for harvesting seed oysters during an 8- to 10-week period in the spring.
- seed oysters from Chesapeake Bay
Examples
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In 1928, the New Jersey oystermen decided not to transplant seed oysters from the upper bay seed beds to their leased beds because an extremely heavy set had occurred on the beds in 1927.
Academic text (1996) -
During the second half of the 1800s and the first half of the 1900s, Virginia's James River (Fig. 88) produced more seed oysters than any estuary in the world.
Academic text (1996) -
Yet another change was in the source of seed oysters.
Academic text (1990) -
After the MSX hit, the growers sought seed oysters large enough to plant and market after only one growing season.
Academic text (1996) -
When the planting of seed oysters began, no system of leasing bottoms existed.
Academic text (1990) -
Before the MSX disease was prevalent, many seed oysters planted were yearlings, 20-25 mm long.
Academic text (1996) -
A substantial number of schooners and some sloops were employed for transplanting the seed oysters from Chesapeake Bay.
Academic text (1990) -
Seed grounds have been managed primarily for seed oyster production, but oysters at least 3 inches (7.6 cm) long can be harvested from them for direct sale.
Academic text (1996) -
The aquaculture farm specializes in cultivating seed oysters for sustainable seafood production.
-
Farmers carefully monitor the growth of seed oysters before transferring them to deeper waters.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a young oyster used for transplantation' is derivable from combining 'seed' (sense of something used for sowing/originating) with 'oyster' — it signals a small or starter oyster. However, using 'seed' for animals/seafood is a metaphorical or technical extension of the basic plant sense that may be unfamiliar to a B1 learner, so the connection is only partially predictable without domain knowledge.
Etymology
Seed oyster comes from the image of a small oyster acting like a plant seed: oyster farmers move and 'plant' these little animals on beds so they can 'grow' into adults. That's why the term means a young oyster kept for transplantation.
