Definition of "whelk"

whelk¹

/wɛlk/

noun
plural whelks
1. Certain edible sea snails, especially, any one of numerous species of large marine gastropods belonging to Buccinidae, much used as food in Europe.

whelk²

/wɛlk/

noun
plural whelks
1. (archaic) Pimple.
  Quotations
  his face is all bubukles , and whelks , and knobs
  1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene v]
2. A stripe or mark; a ridge; a wale.