I. ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: Middle English nut schell, from nut (I) + schell shell — more at shell
1. : the shell or hard external covering in which the kernel of a nut is enclosed
2.
a. obsolete : something of little or no value
don't stake your life against a nutshell — Jeremy Collier
b. : something of little or small compass, size, amount, or length
a little nutshell of people here — Owen Wister
wisdom in these nutshells of poems — Times Literary Supplement
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- in a nutshell
II. transitive verb
: to state or sum up in a few words
he nutshelled the whole plan for them