scalloped

Scalloped refers to a border or edge composed of a series of rounded teeth or arcs, reminiscent of a scallop shell. The term is widely used in art, design, and nature.

In decorative arts, a scalloped edge appears on metalwork, ceramics, and textiles, where a continuous sequence of shallow semicircular indentations creates a wavy profile. In fashion and crafts, hems and collars may be scalloped, and nail art commonly features scalloped manicures with a curved edge along the tip.

In cooking, scalloped potatoes describe a dish in which thinly sliced potatoes are baked in a creamy sauce in a shallow dish; the edges and top adopt a scalloped profile as they brown. The term can also extend to other baked goods or layered dishes prepared in the same method.

In botany, a margin described as scalloped has rounded teeth along the edge of a leaf or petal rather than a smooth or sharply serrated outline. In geology and planetary science, scalloped topography refers to a landscape pattern of rounded depressions or ridges caused by erosion or differential weathering.

The word originates from the scallop shell, and its use to describe edges or shapes attests to the shell’s distinctive curved outline. See also serration and edging terms.