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Hull

1. The outer covering of anything, particularly of a nut or of grain; the outer skin of a kernel; the husk.

2. The frame or body of a vessel, exclusive of her masts, yards, sails, and rigging. Hull down, said of a ship so distant that her hull is concealed by the convexity of the sea.

Origin: oe. Hul, hol, shell, husk, as. Hulu; akin to g. Hulle covering, husk, case, hullen to cover, goth. Huljan to cover, as. Helan to hele, conceal. See Hele, hell.