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• hull
  hull

  noun

  the husk, shell, or outer covering of a seed or fruit.
• Hull
  Hull

  noun

  Bobby Robert Marvin Hull, 1939–2023, Canadian ice-hockey player, known as “the Golden Jet”: Hockey Hall of Fame 1983.

hull

¹ American  

[huhl] / hʌl /

noun

1. the husk, shell, or outer covering of a seed or fruit.

   Synonyms:

   shuck, rind, peel, pod, skin

2. the calyx of certain fruits, as the strawberry.

3. any covering or envelope.

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verb (used with object)

1. to remove the hull of.

2. Midland U.S. to shell (peas or beans).

hull ² American  

[huhl] / hʌl /

noun

1. the hollow, lowermost portion of a ship, floating partially submerged and supporting the remainder of the ship.

2. Aeronautics.

   1. the boatlike fuselage of a flying boat on which the plane lands or takes off.

   2. the cigar-shaped arrangement of girders enclosing the gasbag of a rigid dirigible.

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verb (used with object)

1. to pierce (the hull of a ship), especially below the water line.

verb (used without object)

1. to drift without power or sails.

idioms

1. hull down, (of a ship) sufficiently far away, or below the horizon, that the hull is invisible.

2. hull up, (of a ship) sufficiently near, or above the horizon, that the hull is visible.

Hull ³ American  

[huhl] / hʌl /

noun

1. Bobby Robert Marvin Hull, 1939–2023, Canadian ice-hockey player, known as “the Golden Jet”: Hockey Hall of Fame 1983.

2. Cordell 1871–1955, U.S. secretary of state 1933–44, known as “the Father of the United Nations”: Nobel Peace Prize 1945.

3. William, 1753–1825, U.S. general, court-martialed and sentenced to death after surrendering a U.S. fort to the British during the War of 1812: pardoned by President Madison.

4. Official Name Kingston-upon-Hull. a seaport in Humberside, in eastern England, on the Humber River.

5. a city in southeastern Canada, on the Ottawa River opposite Ottawa.

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hull ¹ British  

/ hʌl /

noun

1. the main body of a vessel, tank, flying boat, etc

2. the shell or pod of peas or beans; the outer covering of any fruit or seed; husk

3. the persistent calyx at the base of a strawberry, raspberry, or similar fruit

4. the outer casing of a missile, rocket, etc

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verb

1. to remove the hulls from (fruit or seeds)

2. (tr) to pierce the hull of (a vessel, tank, etc)

Hull ² British  

/ hʌl /

noun

1. a city and port in NE England, in Kingston upon Hull unitary authority, East Riding of Yorkshire: fishing, food processing; two universities. Pop: 301 416 (2001). Official name: Kingston upon Hull

2. a city in SE Canada, in SW Quebec on the River Ottawa: a centre of the timber trade and associated industries. Pop: 66 246 (2001)

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Hull ³ British  

/ hʌl /

noun

1. Cordell. 1871–1955, US statesman; secretary of state (1933–44). He helped to found the U.N.: Nobel peace prize 1945

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hull Scientific  

/ hŭl /

1. The dry outer covering of a fruit, seed, or nut; a husk.

2. The enlarged calyx of a fruit, such as a strawberry, that is usually green and easily detached.

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Other Word Forms

• huller
  noun
• hull-less
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of hull¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English hulu “husk, pod”; akin to Old English helan “to cover, hide,” Latin cēlāre “to hide, conceal,” Greek kalýptein “to cover up” ( see apocalypse); see conceal, hell

Origin of hull²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; special use of hull ¹

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Explanation

A sailor who is far out at sea has to hope that the hull of her boat is watertight. The hull of a boat or a ship is its outer body. A boat's hull can be made of wood, metal, or fiberglass — it gives a boat or ship its shape and keeps water out. Another kind of hull is the outer covering of a seed. Corn, for example, has a hull that is removed when you husk it and reveal the kernels. This kind of hull is thought to be the root of the nautical hull, probably based on the similarity between a ship's hull and an open pea pod.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hull Hull

That means China’s fleet is around 35% larger than the American Navy by hull count.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

In that first meeting with Collins and her staff, Kao pitched an $8 million boat hull research project for Navatek and the university.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026

Both Sidi Kerir loadings and ship-to-ship transfers likely will increase under the new Red Sea threat, particularly for Asian customers, said Dylan Mortimer, marine hull U.K. war leader at insurance broker Marsh.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026

The draft is the vertical distance between the waterline and the lowest point of a ship's hull.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

Snow fell on the ship’s black hull as it churned toward the open water.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov, of Uzbekistan, and Hull City and Australia defender Lucas Herrington would also have expected international call-ups for the Asian Cup.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026

Karl Bushby bears down on Hull, with his heavy duty gear trolley "The Beast"

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

Julio Enciso scores the equalising goal for Ipswich as they draw 2-2 with Hull at the MKM Stadium.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

I could easily make a case for Hull because we know they will give this a real go, but I am actually going to back Ipswich to nick an away win.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

Was she afraid of Hull hearing them talk about him?

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

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