Atlantic coast round clams with hard shells; large clams usually used for chowders or other clam dishes.

synonyms: hard-shell clam, quahaug, quahog.

An edible American clam; the heavy shells were used as money by some American Indians.

synonyms: hard-shell clam, hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, quahaug, quahog, Venus mercenaria.