Quahog (usually "KWOH-hog") is a Narragansett Indian word for money, which is what these 5-6 inch wide shells used to be -- before civilized european folk introduced the banking crisis to the new world.

They're found in the northeast U.S. in shallow salt water, burrowed under 3 inches of mud. Too tough to be eaten raw, quahogs are used in chowder, or diced, breaded and packed back into a half shell, and called a stuffed quahog or "stuffie." Or 'Rhode Island filet mignon.' They're also prized as earrings in Johnston.

Ok, I may have made those last two bits up.