■ noun
1》 the hard protective outer case of a mollusc or crustacean.
↘the thin outer covering of a bird's or reptile's egg.
↘the outer case of a nut kernel or seed.
↘the carapace of a tortoise, turtle, or terrapin.
↘the wing cases of a beetle.
↘the integument of an insect pupa or chrysalis.
2》 an explosive artillery projectile or bomb.
↘a hollow metal or paper case used as a container for fireworks, explosives, or cartridges.
↘ N. Amer. a cartridge.
3》 something resembling or likened to a ~, especially a hollow or outer case.
4》 the walls of an unfinished or gutted building.
5》 a light racing boat.
6》 the metal framework of a vehicle body.
7》 the hand guard of a sword.
8》 Physics each of a set of orbitals in an atom, occupied by electrons of similar energies.
9》 Computing short for ~ program .
■ verb
1》 bombard with ~s.
2》 remove the ~ or pod from.
3》 ( ~ something out ) informal pay a specified amount of money, especially an amount regarded as excessive.
Phrases
come out of one's ~ cease to be shy.
Derivatives
-~ed adjective
~-less adjective
~-like adjective
~y adjective
Origin
OE scell (n.), of Gmc origin; related to scale 1 .