# Shellsort

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. A sorting algorithm that starts by sorting pairs of elements that are far apart from each other, then progressively reduces the gap between elements to be compared.

## Etymology
From Shell + sort, after Douglas Shell, who published the first version in 1959.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/shellsort