hull 1
— huller , n.
/hul/ , n.
1. the husk, shell, or outer covering of a seed or fruit.
2. the calyx of certain fruits, as the strawberry.
3. any covering or envelope.
v.t.
4. to remove the hull of.
5. Midland U.S. to shell (peas or beans).
[ bef. 1000; ME; OE hulu husk, pod; akin to OE helan to cover, hide, L celare to hide, CONCEAL, Gk kalýptein to cover up (see APOCALYPSE). See HALL, HELL, HOLE ]
Syn. 1. skin, pod, peel, rind, shuck.
hull 2
— hull-less , adj.
/hul/ , n.
1. the hollow, lowermost portion of a ship, floating partially submerged and supporting the remainder of the ship.
2. Aeron.
a. the boatlike fuselage of a flying boat on which the plane lands or takes off.
b. the cigar-shaped arrangement of girders enclosing the gasbag of a rigid dirigible.
3. hull down , (of a ship) sufficiently far away, or below the horizon, that the hull is invisible.
4. hull up , (of a ship) sufficiently near, or above the horizon, that the hull is visible.
v.t.
5. to pierce (the hull of a ship), esp. below the water line.
v.i.
6. to drift without power or sails.
[ 1350-1400; ME; special use of HULL 1 ]