Thin-shelled

Describing an object, particularly a natural item like a nut, seed, or egg, that possesses a shell or outer covering of relatively slight thickness. This thinness makes the item more susceptible to damage, easier to crack, or less protective of the contents within. The term emphasizes the fragile nature of the exterior and often implies that minimal force is required to breach the outer layer. It can also be applied metaphorically to describe things that are weak, vulnerable, or easily damaged. The term specifically focuses on the physical dimension of the shell's lack of density.

Thin-shelled meaning with examples

• The bird meticulously chose only the thin-shelled eggs from the nest, knowing they were closer to hatching and less resistant to the developing chick's internal pressure. This delicate balance determined her nesting strategy. The other thicker eggs were left for later meals, reflecting a natural priority for immediate survival.
• Careful handling was crucial when transporting the thin-shelled walnuts harvested from the orchard. A sudden drop or heavy impact would shatter their fragile exteriors, ruining the harvest. Workers carefully placed them into padded baskets to protect the delicate outer casings to be sent to market.
• The artist preferred painting on panels of thin-shelled clay, knowing they would bake into fine ceramic surfaces. This thinness allowed for the perfect blending and adherence of the paints. The creation of such paintings brought them much fame in the art world, due to their extreme finesse.
• After the intense shelling from the storm, the remaining thin-shelled crab left in the sea seemed doomed to the tides. The crab, whose new carapace had yet to completely harden, offered little defense against predators or the relentless forces of the ocean.