skull

[ skuhl ]

noun

1. the bony framework of the head, enclosing the brain and supporting the face; the skeleton of the head.
2. the head as the center of knowledge and understanding; mind:

   to get literature's great ideas through our skulls.

3. Armor. the part of a helmet that covers the top of the head.

skull

/ skʌl /

noun

1. See cranium
   the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates See cranium cranial
2. derogatory.
   the head regarded as the mind or intelligence

   to have a dense skull

3. a picture of a skull used to represent death or danger

skull

/ skŭl /

1. The part of the skeleton that forms the framework of the head, consisting of the bones of the cranium, which protect the brain, and the bones of the face.
2. See more at skeleton

Other Words From

• skull-less adjective
• skull-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of skull¹

1175–1225; Middle English scolle < Old Norse skalli

Word History and Origins

Origin of skull¹

C13: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse skoltr, Norwegian skult, Swedish dialect skulle

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. out of one's skull, Slang. crazy; demented.

Example Sentences

Anthropologists reported in 2017 that most of these are from skulls, and that some are carved with grooves and holes in a way that suggests intact skulls were once hung up for display.

From Nautilus

From there, they stomped my face into the curb and then proceeded to kick me in the head so the back of my skull smashed into the curb.

From Ozy

Musk envisions an outpatient therapy where a robot can simultaneously remove a piece of the skull, sew the electrodes in, and replace the missing skull piece with the device.

From Singularity Hub 

“In a lot of ways,” Musk said, “It’s kind of like a Fitbit in your skull, with tiny wires.”

From MIT Technology Review

Elon Musk gave a peek at his brain computing startup, Neuralink, on Friday by showing off a surgically implanted electrical device in the skull of a living pig that broadcast the animal’s brain activity.

From Fortune

Reprinted by permission of Soft Skull Press, an imprint of Counterpoint.

From The Daily Beast

He fell 40 feet and fractured his skull, hip, and nose, and lay there motionless.

From The Daily Beast

Katniss walks through mountains of skeletons, at one point recoiling in horror as she inadvertently steps on a skull.

From The Daily Beast

He subsequently told the Post that it was clear he had killed bin Laden because his skull was split open.

From The Daily Beast

The calavera, or decorated skull, is an archetype of Mexican popular culture.

From The Daily Beast

He aimed at the yawning hippopotamus and fired, hitting it on the skull, but at such an angle that the ball glanced off.

From Project Gutenberg

When he picked himself up, he saw something that knocked all ideas of picture taking out of his thick skull.

From Project Gutenberg

Their feet were all placed towards the east, and in the skull of one was found the iron head of a spear.

From Project Gutenberg

The elephant, as is well known, is easily vulnerable in one spot only,—the middle of the skull.

From Project Gutenberg

It was in perfect condition and looked as if the skull had only recently been removed from it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cranium
• scalp