n.
Pronunciation: ' h ə lk
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English hulke, from Old English hulc, probably from Medieval Latin holcas, from Greek holkas, from helkein to pull ― more at SULCUS
Date: before 12th century
1 a : a heavy clumsy ship b (1) : the body of an old ship unfit for service (2) : a ship used as a prison ― usually used in plural <every prisoner sent to the hulk s ― Kenneth Roberts> c : an abandoned wreck or shell (as of a building or automobile)
2 : one that is bulky or unwieldy