hull

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: the outer covering of a fruit or seed
b
: the persistent calyx or involucre that subtends some fruits (such as a strawberry)
2
a
: the frame or body of a ship or boat exclusive of masts, yards, sails, and rigging
b
: the main body of a usually large or heavy craft or vehicle (such as an airship or tank)
3
hull-less adjective

hull

2 of 2

verb

hulled; hulling; hulls

transitive verb

: to remove the hulls of : shuck
huller noun

Examples of hull in a Sentence

Noun the coffin was placed in a cement hull Verb hull the pinto beans before adding them
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The case itself takes on the shape of an ACJ window down to the aircraft window’s multi-layered hull. Rebecca Suhrawardi, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024 The aluminum hull and superstructure of the NL45 has a GT just under 500, is solid, light, and 100 percent recyclable. Kathleen Turner, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Hydrofoils remove 60% of the drag oversea and make steadier turns because the hull is out of the water, Tice said. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2024 Over the centuries, its wooden hull was eaten away by underwater worms, leaving no trace of its existence. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2024 Dunn, whose main job with the FWC is cataloging derelict boats, said divers must often get in the water to locate the state registration numbers off the hull of the boat. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024 The team worked with Volvo’s naval architects, redesigning the Torpedo’s hull to improve seakeeping and performance. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 18 Feb. 2024 Set within a cliff overlooking Lake Erie, its architecture was designed to resemble the hull of a cruise ship. Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 13 Feb. 2024 The same ship, in 2021, had a hole blown through its hull by a possible mine explosion in an attack suspected to have been carried out by Israel. Greg Wehner, Fox News, 5 Feb. 2024
Verb
Ingredients 2 cups ice cubes 1 cup hulled and halved fresh strawberries (from 8 oz. Karen Schroeder-Rankin, Southern Living, 30 July 2023 In our final test, the paring knife was up to par for hulling strawberries, producing a smooth cut with no resistance. Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2023 It’s traditionally made by simmering pork with chiles and hominy (hulled corn kernels), but adding venison to the pot lends the stew a richer and more vibrant character. Jonathan Miles, Field & Stream, 15 Nov. 2023 Sterile seeds, or seeds that are just hull with no edible part inside, will look thin and papery. Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2023 Place the washed and hulled strawberries in a blender. Carolyn Hagler, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Aug. 2023 For a similar effect, hull fresh strawberries and freeze overnight before using. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 31 July 2023 The small blade gives you more control for jobs like hulling and halving strawberries. Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 13 July 2023 Next, hull the berries by using a paring knife to remove the green stems. Pam Lolley, Southern Living, 12 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hull.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English holle, hulle, going back to Old English hulu, apparently going back to a by-form (without umlaut) of Germanic *huljō (whence Old High German hulla "outer garment," Middle High German hülle), nominal derivative from *hulj-a- "to cover" (whence Old Saxon bihullean "to veil, conceal," Old High German hullan "to cover," Old Norse hylja "to hide, cover," Gothic huljan "to cover, veil"), going back to Indo-European *ḱl̥-i̯e-, present stem formed from the verbal base *ḱel- "cover, conceal" — more at conceal

Note: The sense "frame or body of a ship," first attested with certainty ca. 1424-25 in a Latin document, is apparently a figurative use of the sense "husk, pod"; cf. Bertil Sandahl, Middle English Sea Terms I. The Ship's Hull (Uppsala, 1951), pp. 194-95.

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hull was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near hull

Cite this Entry

“Hull.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hull. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hull

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: the outer covering of a fruit or seed
b
: the remains of the flower that cling to the base of some fruits (as a strawberry)
2
: the frame or body of a ship, flying boat, or airship

hull

2 of 2 verb
: to remove the hulls of
hulling strawberries
hulled the corn kernels
huller noun

Geographical Definition

Hull

geographical name

1
or in full Kingston upon Hull city and port on the Humber River in eastern England population 242,200
2
former town in southwestern Quebec, Canada, on the Ottawa River

Note: Hull is now part of the town of Gatineau.

Biographical Definition

Hull 1 of 4

biographical name (1)

Cordell 1871–1955 American statesman; U.S. Secretary of State (1933–44)

Hull

2 of 4

biographical name (2)

Isaac 1773–1843 American naval officer

Hull

3 of 4

biographical name (3)

Bobby 1939–2023 Robert Marvin Hull Canadian ice hockey player

Hull

4 of 4

biographical name (4)

William 1753–1825 American general

More from Merriam-Webster on hull

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