Emily Dickinson Lexicon
Definition for POR'PHY-RY-SHELL
POR'PHY-RYPOR'PITE, or POR'PITES
POR'PHY-RY-SHELL, n.
An animal or shell of the genus Murex. It is of the snail kind, the shell consisting of one spiral valve. From one species of this genus was formerly obtained a liquor that produced the Tyrian purple.
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