Category:Hull

Hull, n. Etym: [OE. hul, hol, shell, husk, AS. hulu; akin to G. hülle covering, husk, case, hüllen to cover, Goth. huljan to cover, AS. helan to hele, conceal. sq. root17. See Hele, v. t., Hell.]

1. The outer covering of anything, particularly of a nut or of grain; the outer skin of a kernel; the husk.

2. Etym: [In this sense perh. influenced by D. hol hold of a ship, E. hold.] (Naut.)

Defn: The frame or body of a vessel, exclusive of her masts, yards, sails, and rigging. Deep in their hulls our deadly bullets light. Dryden. Hull down, said of a ship so distant that her hull is concealed by the convexity of the sea.

hull Hull, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hulled; p. pr. & vb. n. Hulling.]

1. To strip off or separate the hull or hulls of; to free from integument; as, to hull corn.

2. To pierce the hull of, as a ship, with a cannon ball.

hull Hull, v. i.

Defn: To toss or drive on the water, like the hull of a ship without sails. [Obs.] Shak. Milton.