hull

1
[ huhl ]
/ hʌl /

noun

the husk, shell, or outer covering of a seed or fruit.
the calyx of certain fruits, as the strawberry.
any covering or envelope.

verb (used with object)

to remove the hull of.
Midland U.S. to shell (peas or beans).

Origin of hull

1
before 1000; Middle English; Old English hulu husk, pod; akin to Old English helan to cover, hide, Latin cēlāre to hide, conceal, Greek kalýptein to cover up (see apocalypse). See hall, hell, hole

OTHER WORDS FROM hull

hull·er, noun

Definition for hull (2 of 3)

hull 2
[ huhl ]
/ hʌl /

noun

the hollow, lowermost portion of a ship, floating partially submerged and supporting the remainder of the ship.
Aeronautics.
  1. the boatlike fuselage of a flying boat on which the plane lands or takes off.
  2. the cigar-shaped arrangement of girders enclosing the gasbag of a rigid dirigible.

verb (used with object)

to pierce (the hull of a ship), especially below the water line.

verb (used without object)

to drift without power or sails.

Origin of hull

2
1350–1400; Middle English; special use of hull1

OTHER WORDS FROM hull

hull-less, adjective

Definition for hull (3 of 3)

Hull
[ huhl ]
/ hʌl /

noun

Cor·dell [kawr-del, kawr-del] /ˈkɔr dɛl, kɔrˈdɛl/,1871–1955, U.S. statesman: secretary of state 1933–44; Nobel Peace Prize 1945.
Robert MarvinBobby,born 1939, Canadian ice-hockey player.
William,1753–1825, U.S. general.
Official name Kingston-upon-Hull. a seaport in Humberside, in E England, on the Humber River.
a city in SE Canada, on the Ottawa River opposite Ottawa.

Example sentences from the Web for hull

British Dictionary definitions for hull (1 of 3)

hull
/ (hʌl) /

noun

the main body of a vessel, tank, flying boat, etc
the shell or pod of peas or beans; the outer covering of any fruit or seed; husk
the persistent calyx at the base of a strawberry, raspberry, or similar fruit
the outer casing of a missile, rocket, etc

verb

to remove the hulls from (fruit or seeds)
(tr) to pierce the hull of (a vessel, tank, etc)

Derived forms of hull

huller, noun hull-less, adjective

Word Origin for hull

Old English hulu; related to Old High German helawa, Old English helan to hide

British Dictionary definitions for hull (2 of 3)

Hull 1
/ (hʌl) /

noun

a city and port in NE England, in Kingston upon Hull unitary authority, East Riding of Yorkshire: fishing, food processing; two universities. Pop: 301 416 (2001). Official name: Kingston upon Hull
a city in SE Canada, in SW Quebec on the River Ottawa: a centre of the timber trade and associated industries. Pop: 66 246 (2001)

British Dictionary definitions for hull (3 of 3)

Hull 2
/ (hʌl) /

noun

Cordell. 1871–1955, US statesman; secretary of state (1933–44). He helped to found the U.N.: Nobel peace prize 1945

Scientific definitions for hull

hull
[ hŭl ]

The dry outer covering of a fruit, seed, or nut; a husk.
The enlarged calyx of a fruit, such as a strawberry, that is usually green and easily detached.