claire

Borrowed from French claire, the feminine form of clair (“clear”).

claire (plural claires)

1. A small enclosed pond used for gathering and greening oysters.
   • 1891, William Keith Brooks, The Oyster: A Popular Summary of a Scientific Study, page 132:

     In order to prepare the ground of the claire for the reception of oysters, it must first be cleared of stones and all vegetation which may cover it, then the necessary slope from the center towards the sides may be given it.

   • 1900, Report of the Commissioner, volume 25, United States. Bureau of Fisheries, page cxxxii:

     A barrel of lime was spread around the edge of the claire, so as to be gradually washed into the water and furnish the material required by oysters in the fabrication of the shell. Until October the oysters in the claire remained exceedingly poor, […]

• clear

• Carlie, eclair, lacier, éclair

• IPA^(key): /klɛʁ/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛʁ

claire

1. feminine singular of clair

claire

1. inflection of clairer:
   1. first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
   2. second-person singular imperative

• éclair