Hull
/hʌl/noun
The outer covering or shell of something, especially a ship, nut, seed, or pod.
Did you know?The ship sense of *hull* likely arose from the idea of a vessel’s outer shell, and the same ancient root also gave English *hide*, *hole*, and *holster*—all words tied to covering, concealment, or enclosure.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kel-
“to cover, conceal, or hide”
Old English
OE
hulu
“a husk, shell, or pod”
Middle English
ME
hull
“a husk, shell, or outer covering”
16th Century
English
hull
“the body or shell of a ship”
Modern English
English
hull
“the outer covering or body of a ship, nut, seed, or similar object”