HULL, noun 1. The outer covering of any thing, particularly of a nut or of grain. Johnson says, the hull of a nut covers the shell. 2. The frame or body of a ship, exclusive of her masts, yards and rigging. To lie a hull in seamen's language, is to lie as a ship without any sail upon her, and her helm lashed a-lee. To strike a hull in a storm, is to take in the sails, and lash the helm on the lee-side of a ship. HULL, verb transitive To strip off or separate the hull or hulls; as, to hull grain. 1. To pierce the hull of a ship with a cannon-ball. HULL, verb intransitive To float or drive on the water without sails.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI