Category:Bulk

Bulk, n. Etym: [OE. bulke, bolke, heap; cf. Dan. bulk lump, clod, OSw. bolk crowd, mass, Icel. b to be bulky. Cf. Boll, n., Bile a boil, Bulge, n.]

1. Magnitude of material substance; dimensions; mass; size; as, an ox or ship of great bulk. Against these forces there were prepared near one hundred ships; not so great of bulk indeed, but of a more nimble motion, and more serviceable. Bacon.

2. The main mass or body; the largest or principal portion; the majority; as, the bulk of a debt. The bulk of the people must labor, Burke told them, "to obtain what by labor can be obtained." J. Morley.

3. (Naut.)

Defn: The cargo of a vessel when stowed.

4. The body. [Obs.] Shak. My liver leaped within my bulk. Turbervile. Barrel bulk. See under Barrel. -- To break bulk (Naut.), to begin to unload or more the cargo. -- In bulk, in a mass; loose; not inclosed in separate packages or divided into separate parts; in such shape that any desired quantity may be taken or sold. -- Laden in bulk, Stowed in bulk, having the cargo loose in the hold or not inclosed in boxes, bales, or casks. -- Sale by bulk, a sale of goods as they are, without weight or measure.

Syn. -- Size; magnitude; dimension; volume; bigness; largeness; massiveness.

Bulk Bulk, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bulked; p. pr. & vb. n. Bulking.]

Defn: To appear or seem to be, as to bulk or extent; to swell. The fame of Warburton possibly bulked larger for the moment. Leslie Stephen.

Bulk Bulk, n. Etym: [Icel. balkr a beam, partition. Cf. Balk, n. & v.]

Defn: A projecting part of a building. [Obs.] Here, stand behind this bulk. Shak.