Skip to content
ontologydriven
Sign out

Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

shell en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ʃɛl/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • (US) audio
  • /ʃɛl/ New Zealand, salary–celery merger
  • /ʃæl/ Australia, salary–celery merger
  • /ʃel/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
  • shĕl

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelH- Proto-Indo-European *skol-yeh₂ Proto-Germanic *skaljō Proto-West Germanic *skallju Old English sċiell Middle English schelle English shell From Middle English schelle, from Old English sċel, sċell, sċiell, sċil, sċill, sċyl, sċyll, from Proto-West Germanic *skallju, from Proto-Germanic *skaljō (“shell; husk; rind; peel”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelH- (“to cut; to separate, split”). Cognates Cognate with Dutch schil (“bark, rind, skin; crust; shell; slice”), Danish skæl (“scale; dandruff”), Faroese and Icelandic skel (“shell”), Norwegian Bokmål skjell (“shell; scale”), Norwegian Nynorsk skjel (“shell; bivalve; scale; carapace”), Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌰𐌻𐌾𐌰 (skalja, “brick, tile”), French écaille (“scale; shell”), Friulian scae (“scale”), Italian scaglia (“scale; flake, sliver; splinter”); also Breton killi (“grove”), Cornish kelli (“grove”), Irish coill (“forest, wood”), Manx keyll (“forest, wood; grove, plantation”), Scottish Gaelic coille (“forest”), Welsh celli (“grove”), Latin scalpō (“to scratch; to carve”), Ancient Greek σκᾰ́λλω (skắllō, “to hoe, stir up”), Albanian çel (“to open up; to sprout; to hatch up; to rise”), Lithuanian skelti (“to crack, split”), Bulgarian, Macedonian, and Russian скала́ (skalá, “cliff, rock”), Czech skála (“rock”), Polish skała, skáła, szkała (“rock”), Slovak and Slovene skala (“rock”), Ukrainian скала́ (skalá), ска́ля (skálja, “cliff, rock”), Armenian քաղել (kʻaġel, “to pick; to gather; to mow”), Sanskrit कॢप् (kḷp, “to order; to manage; to perform; to create; to cut”). More at shale. Doublet of sheal. * (computing): From being viewed as an outer layer of interface between the user and the operating-system internals.

Meanings

  1. A hard external covering of an animal. ▸ The calcareous or chitinous external covering of mollusks, crustaceans, and some other invertebrates.
    • […] if with thee the roaring wells ⁠Should gulf him fathom-deep in brine; ⁠And hands so often clasp’d in mine, Should toss with tangle and with shells. 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto X”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
    • In some mollusks, as the cuttlefish, the shell is concealed by the animal's outer mantle and is considered internal.
    • Genuine mother-of-pearl buttons are made from sea shells.
  2. (broadly) A hard external covering of an animal. ▸ Any mollusk having such a covering.
  3. A hard external covering of an animal. ▸ The exoskeleton or wing covers of certain insects.
  4. A hard external covering of an animal. ▸ The conjoined scutes that constitute the "shell" (carapace) of a tortoise or turtle.
  5. A hard external covering of an animal. ▸ The overlapping hard plates comprising the armor covering the armadillo's body.
  6. The hard calcareous covering of a bird egg.
  7. One of the outer layers of skin of an onion.
    • The restaurant served caramelized onion shells.
  8. The hard external covering of various plant seed forms. ▸ The covering, or outside part, of a nut.
    • The black walnut and the hickory nut, both of the same Genus as the pecan, have much thicker and harder shells than the pecan.
  9. The hard external covering of various plant seed forms. ▸ A pod containing the seeds of certain plants, such as the legume Phaseolus vulgaris.
  10. (in-plural) The hard external covering of various plant seed forms. ▸ Husks of cacao seeds, a decoction of which is sometimes used as a substitute or adulterant for cocoa and its products such as chocolate.
  11. The accreted mineral formed around a hollow geode.
  12. The casing of a self-contained single-unit artillery projectile.
  13. A hollow, usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a siege mortar or a smoothbore cannon. It contains an explosive substance designed to be ignited by a fuse or by percussion at the target site so that it will burst and scatter at high velocity its contents and fragments. Formerly called a bomb.
  14. The cartridge of a breechloading firearm; a load; a bullet; a round.
  15. Any slight hollow structure; a framework, or exterior structure, regarded as not complete or filled in, as the shell of a house.
  16. A garment, usually worn by women, such as a shirt, blouse, or top, with short sleeves or no sleeves, that often fastens in the rear.
  17. A coarse or flimsy coffin; a thin interior coffin enclosed within a more substantial one.
    • Upstairs in that chill darkened room which nobody passes who can help it , the old Baronet lies in his coffin shell - an awful form faintly defined beneath the sheet 1877, Burke O'Farrell, Proud as Lucifer: A Novel:
  18. An unmarked vehicle for carrying corpses from a crime scene.
    • Then they lifted the body into the bag, setting it down like something breakable, zipped the bag, wrapped the whole thing in polythene and carried the stretcher into the shell. 2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 23:
  19. A string instrument, as a lyre, whose acoustical chamber is formed like a shell.
    • when Jubal struck the chorded shell 1687, John Dryden, A Song for Cecilia's Day:
    • The first lyre may have been made by drawing strings over the underside of a tortoise shell.
  20. The body of a drum; the often wooden, often cylindrical acoustic chamber, with or without rims added for tuning and for attaching the drum head.
  21. An engraved copper roller used in print works.
  22. The thin coating of copper on an electrotype.
  23. The watertight outer covering of the hull of a vessel, often made with planking or metal plating.
  24. (qualifier:rigging) The outer frame or case of a block within which the sheaves revolve.
  25. A light boat whose frame is covered with thin wood, impermeable fabric, or water-proofed paper; a racing shell or dragon boat.
  26. A set of atomic orbitals that have the same principal quantum number.
  27. (figuratively) The outward form independent of what is inside.
  28. (figuratively) The empty outward form of someone or something.
    • The setback left him a mere shell; he was never the same again.
    • Mr. Thomas adds that, by the time it was scrapped, Kingsley was in very bad condition, little more than a shell in fact. In view of the rough usage to which the engine had been subjected, this is not surprising. 1953 April, “Notes and News: Locomotive Notes”, in Railway Magazine, page 283:
  29. An emaciated person.
    • He's lost so much weight from illness; he's a shell of his former self.
  30. (figuratively) A person otherwise diminished.
    • Since coming back from Vietnam, he's been a shell of his former self.
  31. A psychological barrier to social interaction.
    • Even after months of therapy he's still in his shell.
  32. An operating system software user interface, whose primary purpose is to launch other programs and control their interactions; the user's command interpreter. Shell is a way to separate the internal complexity of the implementation of the command from the user. The internals can change while the user experience/interface remains the same.
    • The name "Bash" is an acronym which stands for "Bourne-again shell", itself a pun on the name of the "Bourne shell", an earlier Unix shell designed by Stephen Bourne, and the Christian concept of being "born again".
  33. A legal entity that has no operations.
    • A shell corporation was formed to acquire the old factory.
  34. A concave rough cast-iron tool in which a convex lens is ground to shape.
  35. A gouge bit or shell bit.
  36. The onset and coda of a syllable.
  37. (UK, slang) A person's ear.
    • Can I have a quick word in your shell?
  38. (UK) One or more school grades within secondary education, at certain public schools.
    • Chinese (Mandarin) is taught at Westminster from the Lower Shell as an optional subject. 2013, “Chinese (Mandarin)”, in Westminster School, retrieved 04 Dec 2023:
  39. In formal debating, a set of proposed rules to be followed, with set penalties for violating them.
    • a topicality shell
    • a theory shell

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
shells Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

shellful · electron shell · seashell · trumpet shell · segment shell · file shell · shellless · shell hunger · spider shell · rosary shell · porcelain shell · carrier shell · shell bed · shelltoed · fountain shell · shell lime · top shell · shell casing · ark shell · shelly · gold shell · shellworking · supershell · crabshell · go into one's shell · shell-less · Shelly Beach · worm shell · oystershell · pilgrim shell · admiral shell · turban shell · aeroshell · soft-shell turtle · kidneyshell · trough shell · nonshell · shell company · porphyry shell · shell game · camper shell · Musselshell · ear shell · bag of shell · tortoiseshell · shell-like · enshell · tongue-shell · worm-shell · shell-pad · breast shell · shell parrot · shotshell · snailshell · shellcode · shellfisherman · shellproof · reverse shell · tracer shell · eggshell · wedge shell · bombshell · margin shell · shuck · bodyshell · tusk shell · back shell · pilgrim's shell · deshell · jingle shell · topshell · hardshell · Dyson shell · coconut shell · scorpion shell · shellie · razor shell · tortoise shell · wing-shell · unshell · soft-shell crab · web shell · turnip shell · half shell · clubshell · shellbark · shell ice · turtleshell · dove shell · shell shoveling · olive shell · come out of one’s shell · lentil shell · shell suit · scimitar shell · valence shell · shell jacket · patty shell · shell gold · shell bean · shellcracker · undershell · mason shell · rice shell · papershell · shellwork · body shell · Shell Lake · shell-lac · cockleshell · cone shell · shellac · tooth shell · harp shell · trough-shell · tortoise shell bracket · tulip shell · shellburst · scallop shell · helmet shell · Santiago shell · boat shell · blind shell · shell shock · pen shell · bubble shell · shellpad · star shell · multishell · intershell · hard-shell clam · clean shell · shellheap · Shell Haven · acorn-shell · shell ginger · inshell · shellback · backshell · shell script · date shell · bandshell · sandwich shell · slit-shell · shell parakeet · Shell Ridge · finger shell · shelltoes · shell sand · shellular · shell marl · otter shell · shell steak · land shell · clamshell · nanoshell · shellfire · nutshell · shell gravel · obtuse horn shell · shell sac · Camino de Santiago shell · shelltoe · shell road · shellfish · softshell · shellflower · waxy screw shell · carpet shell · pansy shell · shell pie · pulley shell · mask shell · slitshell · mitre shell · pearl shell · soft-shell · shell moulding · subshell · shell nail syndrome · needle shell · music shell · sunset shell · chicken shell · shellbag · shell pink · headshell · Camino pilgrim shell · dead-in-shell · shell corporation · shellworker · spur-shell · microshell · shell star · lamp shell

Meronyms

carene (hard external covering) · mantle (hard external covering)

Synonyms

shell-like

Translations (606)

hu töltényhüvely (casing of an artillery projectile) · be па́нцыр (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · uk снаря́д (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · uk черепа́шка (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ast cascu (hard covering of an egg) · bg обши́вка (nautical: outer covering of the hull) · cs skořápka (covering of a nut) · cs slupka (husks of cacao seeds) · ty ʻapu (covering of a nut) · hi खोखा (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · sv skal (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · pl strączek (pod) · es cáscara (hard covering of an egg) · pt carapaça (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · da patron (cartridge of a breechloading firearm) · rup coaji (covering of a nut) · gl casca (hard covering of an egg) · fr coquille (hard covering of an egg) · da skal (overlapping hard plates comprising the armor covering armadillo's body) · ro coajă (covering of a nut) · acw صدفة (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · alt кабык (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · fr cosse (pod) · ru карка́с (any hollow structure; framework, or exterior structure) · sv skal (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · bg обви́вка (chemistry: set of atomic orbitals that have the same principal quantum number) · sv granat (casing of an artillery projectile) · fi munankuori (hard covering of an egg) · hi खोल (covering of a nut) · it top (garment with short or no sleeves that often fastens in the rear) · mi pāpapa (hard covering of an egg) · fi kuoret (husks of cacao seeds) · it guscio (covering of a nut) · ca clovella (husks of cacao seeds) · fi kuori (chemistry: set of atomic orbitals that have the same principal quantum number) · fr coquillage (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ja 薬莢 (casing of an artillery projectile) · tt кабырчык (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · fi komentotulkki (computing: general-purpose environment) · et koor (covering of a nut) · rar katu (covering of a nut) · ru оболо́чка (chemistry: set of atomic orbitals that have the same principal quantum number) · fr squelette (emaciated person) · ur شیل (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · fa پوسته (covering of a nut) · fi panssari (overlapping hard plates comprising the armor covering armadillo's body) · uk па́нцир (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · ja 殻 (husks of cacao seeds) · hu vázszerkezet (any hollow structure; framework, or exterior structure) · km ស្នូកអណ្ដើក (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · grc κέλυφος (covering of a nut) · uz chigʻanoq (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · sk pancier (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · pl strąk (pod) · ja 殻 (chemistry: set of atomic orbitals that have the same principal quantum number) · ru обши́вка (nautical: outer covering of the hull) · el οβίδα (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · da skal (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · nb skjell (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · nl ruwbouw (any hollow structure; framework, or exterior structure) · ko 껍질 (covering of a nut) · da skal (any hollow structure; framework, or exterior structure) · ja 殻 (psychological barrier to social interaction) · be шкарлупі́на (hard covering of an egg) · nl schelp (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ja シェル (computing: general-purpose environment) · cs skořápka (psychological barrier to social interaction) · hu váz (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · de Hülle (any hollow structure; framework, or exterior structure) · bg дру́за (accreted mineral formed around a hollow geode) · ru снаря́д (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · ga sliogán (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · ar قِشْرَة (hard covering of an egg) · cs krovky (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · sv skal (overlapping hard plates comprising the armor covering armadillo's body) · hu gubó (psychological barrier to social interaction) · ja 船体 (nautical: outer covering of the hull) · fa پوکه (casing of an artillery projectile) · rif rburqi (cartridge of a breechloading firearm) · fi palko (pod) · vi mai (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · cs opláštění (nautical: outer covering of the hull) · haw iwi (covering of a nut) · uk па́нцер (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ceb bagol (covering of a nut) · ca obús (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · kk бақалшық (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · alt кабырчак (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · el κέλυφος (hard covering of an egg) · km ស្នូក (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · la putāmen (covering of a nut) · he קליפה (hard covering of an egg) · ca conxa (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ota بالق قولاغی (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · fi pesä (nautical, rigging: outer frame or case of a block within which the sheaves revolve) · nl gebruikersomgeving (computing: general-purpose environment) · hu hüvely (casing of an artillery projectile) · ja 胴 (music: body of a drum) · sv skal (chemistry: set of atomic orbitals that have the same principal quantum number) · be лушпі́на (hard covering of an egg) · ar ظَرْف (casing of an artillery projectile) · cs kostra (emaciated person) · it placca ossea (overlapping hard plates comprising the armor covering armadillo's body) · bg черу́пка (covering of a nut) · pdt Schluw (pod) · ar بَيْت (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · pl plewa (husks of cacao seeds) · es carcasa (any hollow structure; framework, or exterior structure) · id kulit (covering of a nut) · hu gránát (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · ja 殻 (covering of a nut) · haw una (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · fi komentorivi (computing: general-purpose environment) · my အခွံ (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · hu gránáthüvely (casing of an artillery projectile) · it guscio (hard covering of an egg) · pt cartucho (casing of an artillery projectile) · rar ipu (covering of a nut) · to ʻuno (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · sl oklep (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · gd cochall (husks of cacao seeds) · ast cascu (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · bho खपरोइया (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · mk школка (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · kw plisken (hard covering of an egg) · da skjold (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · hi खोखा (hard covering of an egg) · tl bao (covering of a nut) · ml തോട് (hard covering of an egg) · lb Schuel (hard covering of an egg) · th เปลือกหอย (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · fi laidoitus (nautical: outer covering of the hull) · sk škrupina (hard covering of an egg) · cs šrapnel (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · fi kilpi (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · ru ра́ковина (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · cy masgl (hard covering of an egg) · et koor (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · bg черу́пка (hard covering of an egg) · es concha (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · sk ulita (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ru стручо́к (pod) · ml തൊണ്ട് (husks of cacao seeds) · uk шкаралу́па (hard covering of an egg) · cs ulita (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · fr coque (covering of a nut) · eo ŝelo (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · it carapace (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · ko 갑 (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · ang sċiell (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ms cangkerang (hard covering of an egg) · cmn 甲 (overlapping hard plates comprising the armor covering armadillo's body) · fr coque (nautical: outer covering of the hull) · cs krunýř (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · uk па́нцер (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · ko 조가비 (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · id selongsong (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · tr kabuk (covering of a nut) · oc clòsca (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · sh škȏljka (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · bg бро́ня (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · uk шкаралу́пина (covering of a nut) · ms tempurung (covering of a nut) · nb skall (hard covering of an egg) · pt cartucho (cartridge of a breechloading firearm) · ja 卵殻 (hard covering of an egg) · sv skalbolag (business: legal entity that has no operations) · it blusa (garment with short or no sleeves that often fastens in the rear) · hu héj (chemistry: set of atomic orbitals that have the same principal quantum number) · egy i-n:r:039 (hard covering of an egg) · sv skal (business: legal entity that has no operations) · ko 란각 (hard covering of an egg) · so qolof (hard covering of an egg) · es carapacho (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · es concha (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · hy խեցի (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · fi kuori (any hollow structure; framework, or exterior structure) · ru па́нцирь (overlapping hard plates comprising the armor covering armadillo's body) · fi kranaatti (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · ko 포탄 (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · ar قَوْقَعة (psychological barrier to social interaction) · ar قِشْر (covering of a nut) · lo ກະດອງ (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · hu keretprogram (computing: general-purpose environment) · nl obus (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · pt casca (hard covering of an egg) · fr coquille (psychological barrier to social interaction) · ca clovella (covering of a nut) · fi kuori (psychological barrier to social interaction) · el φυσίγγιο (cartridge of a breechloading firearm) · vi vỏ (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · be патро́н (cartridge of a breechloading firearm) · be гі́льза (casing of an artillery projectile) · ru скорлупа́ (hard covering of an egg) · hy կճեպ (hard covering of an egg) · rif ajɣur (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · lo ກາບຫອຍທະເລ (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · et karp (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · sv balja (pod) · hy պատյան (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · be шкарлу́піна (covering of a nut) · sk lastúra (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · fr coquille (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · da granat (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · el κέλυφος (covering of a nut) · da æggeskal (hard covering of an egg) · ca terminal (computing: general-purpose environment) · pt terminal (computing: general-purpose environment) · tg садаф (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · th เปลือก (covering of a nut) · grc κέλυφος (hard covering of an egg) · sv tolk (computing: general-purpose environment) · ja 甲 (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · sv skal (psychological barrier to social interaction) · gv bleayst (husks of cacao seeds) · pl łupina (covering of a nut) · ru оболо́чка (computing: general-purpose environment) · sv granat (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · de Hülse (casing of an artillery projectile) · it granata (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · nl schaal (covering of a nut) · izh maonkotain (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · sv skal (covering of a nut) · da granathylster (casing of an artillery projectile) · mk черупка (hard covering of an egg) · id selongsong (cartridge of a breechloading firearm) · fi panssari (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · eu oskol (hard covering of an egg) · ro coajă (hard covering of an egg) · it mallo (husks of cacao seeds) · ru скорлупа́ (covering of a nut) · it camicetta (garment with short or no sleeves that often fastens in the rear) · lv čaula (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · id tempurung (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · ga sliogán (casing of an artillery projectile) · cmn 砲彈 /炮弹 (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · el κάψα (pod) · de Hülle (chemistry: set of atomic orbitals that have the same principal quantum number) · cs patrona (cartridge of a breechloading firearm) · pt casca (covering of a nut) · ast cascu (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · hi छिलका (covering of a nut) · ru боб (pod) · cmn 甲殼 /甲壳 (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · ms batok (covering of a nut) · it drusa (accreted mineral formed around a hollow geode) · nb eggeskall (hard covering of an egg) · ps صدف (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ja 籾殻 (husks of cacao seeds) · ca closca (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · bg ра́ковина (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · el κάλυκας (casing of an artillery projectile) · hu ház (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ar صَدَفَة (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ru о́стов (any hollow structure; framework, or exterior structure) · ja 甲羅 (overlapping hard plates comprising the armor covering armadillo's body) · et kaun (pod) · bn খোল (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · gd cochall (covering of a nut) · be па́нцыр (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · eo ŝelo (hard covering of an egg) · cs rezonátor (music: body of a drum) · is skel (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · da skal (computing: general-purpose environment) · uk гі́льза (casing of an artillery projectile) · ru патро́н (cartridge of a breechloading firearm) · fi kuoriyhtiö (business: legal entity that has no operations) · sv skalprogram (computing: general-purpose environment) · pt exterior (any hollow structure; framework, or exterior structure) · th เปลือก (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · th เปลือก (hard covering of an egg) · hu teknő (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · alt кабык (hard covering of an egg) · sv plåt (engraved copper roller used in print works) · hu héj (covering of a nut) · gv bleayst (hard covering of an egg) · ko 갑각 (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · la putāmen (hard covering of an egg) · cmn 貝殼 /贝壳 (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · es terminal (computing: general-purpose environment) · et kilp (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · da skal (husks of cacao seeds) · hu elektronhéj (chemistry: set of atomic orbitals that have the same principal quantum number) · ja 莢 (pod) · mi anga (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · fr douille (casing of an artillery projectile) · uk шкаралу́па (covering of a nut) · mk черупка (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ky кабык (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · et kest (casing of an artillery projectile) · id sayap keras (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · fj qa (covering of a nut) · cmn 甲 (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · hi खोखा (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · uk лушпа́йка (covering of a nut) · sv skal (computing: general-purpose environment) · ms cangkerang (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · sm ipu (covering of a nut) · mi kota (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · fi kuori (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · cs hlubotiskový ? válec (engraved copper roller used in print works) · mi matā (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · fi kuori (hard covering of an egg) · lb Schuel (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · fo skel (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ru ги́льза (casing of an artillery projectile) · mi anga (covering of a nut) · haw pū (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · id cangkang (hard covering of an egg) · es caparazón (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · uk па́нцер (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · gv bleayst (pod) · it geode (accreted mineral formed around a hollow geode) · sh љу̏ска (computing: general-purpose environment) · ja 空洞 (any hollow structure; framework, or exterior structure) · ja 胴 (nautical, rigging: outer frame or case of a block within which the sheaves revolve) · ar قِشْرَة (computing: general-purpose environment) · gl cuncha (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · da skal (covering of a nut) · km សំបក (hard covering of an egg) · de Schale (hard covering of an egg) · ms cengkerang (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · be абало́нка (computing: general-purpose environment) · ka ჭურვი (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · hy պատյան (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · ja 鞘翅 (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · uk па́нцир (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · nl omhulsel (covering of a nut) · rar anga (covering of a nut) · ml തോട് (covering of a nut) · fi ammus (cartridge of a breechloading firearm) · id selongsong (casing of an artillery projectile) · bho खोल (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · da skal (chemistry: set of atomic orbitals that have the same principal quantum number) · ca closca (hard covering of an egg) · pl powłoka (computing: general-purpose environment) · km ខ្យង (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · he שִׁרְיוֹן (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · de Granate (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · pt obus (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · es vaina (pod) · grc κόχλος (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · cs stín (emaciated person) · th เชลล์ (computing: general-purpose environment) · fa صدف (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · it baccello (pod) · sv granathylsa (casing of an artillery projectile) · eo ŝelo (covering of a nut) · hi शैल (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · gv bleayst (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · uk ско́йка (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · hi खोल (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · fr carcasse (any hollow structure; framework, or exterior structure) · tr kovan (casing of an artillery projectile) · sl strok (pod) · uk шкаралу́пина (hard covering of an egg) · fa شنج (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · haw ʻolē (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ga sliogán (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · az qabıq (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · sl luščina (covering of a nut) · es caparazón (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · pdt Schluw (covering of a nut) · ml തോട് (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ko 약협 (cartridge of a breechloading firearm) · bg ги́лза (casing of an artillery projectile) · gv bleayst (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · cmn 彈殼 /弹壳 (casing of an artillery projectile) · sh шко̑љка (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ko 갑 (overlapping hard plates comprising the armor covering armadillo's body) · es carrocería (any hollow structure; framework, or exterior structure) · uk лушпи́на (hard covering of an egg) · it ogiva (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · ro cochilie (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · fi kilpi (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · bn শেল (computing: general-purpose environment) · vi mu (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · tl balok (chemistry: set of atomic orbitals that have the same principal quantum number) · ko 셸 (computing: general-purpose environment) · fr couche (chemistry: set of atomic orbitals that have the same principal quantum number) · ka ნიჟარა (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · pt vagem (pod) · de Schale (covering of a nut) · ja 籾 (husks of cacao seeds) · az mərmi (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · nb skall (psychological barrier to social interaction) · ug چىغىناق (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · sq guall (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · hu héj (hard covering of an egg) · mi anga (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · sv skal (husks of cacao seeds) · pl pancerz (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · fa پوسته (hard covering of an egg) · ms sisik (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · he קליפה (covering of a nut) · sl lupina (hard covering of an egg) · tr kabuk (hard covering of an egg) · ca clovella (hard covering of an egg) · es casquete (casing of an artillery projectile) · fi kuori (covering of a nut) · uk лушпа́йка (hard covering of an egg) · lt kriauklė (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · el κέλυφος (overlapping hard plates comprising the armor covering armadillo's body) · uk му́шля (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ja 貝殻 (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · eo ŝelo (computing: general-purpose environment) · km កណាណូ (hard covering of an egg) · ro carcasă (any hollow structure; framework, or exterior structure) · hy արկ (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · hi खोखा (casing of an artillery projectile) · vi vỏ (hard covering of an egg) · eo konko (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ca buc (any hollow structure; framework, or exterior structure) · cs krunýř (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · th กระดอง (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · nl lier (music: string instrument, whose acoustical chamber is formed like a shell) · el κέλυφος (computing: general-purpose environment) · it esoscheletro (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · tr kabuk (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · be шкару́па (hard covering of an egg) · hi कौड़ी (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · sv skida (pod) · cs mušle (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · pl pocisk (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · pl skorupka (hard covering of an egg) · id sisik (overlapping hard plates comprising the armor covering armadillo's body) · be ра́кавіна (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · cy cragen (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · cy masgl (covering of a nut) · he קוֹנְכִיָּה (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · sl oklep (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · vi vỏ trứng (hard covering of an egg) · ru па́нцирь (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · nl schaal (hard covering of an egg) · uk оболо́нка (computing: general-purpose environment) · hu váz (any hollow structure; framework, or exterior structure) · ja 胴 (music: string instrument, whose acoustical chamber is formed like a shell) · ru ра́кушка (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ja 薬莢 (cartridge of a breechloading firearm) · ms kulit (covering of a nut) · ms kulit (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · hu vacok (psychological barrier to social interaction) · fi kuori (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · fr obus (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · hy պատյան (pod) · ko 껍질 (hard covering of an egg) · cs nábojnice (casing of an artillery projectile) · sv äggskal (hard covering of an egg) · be знара́д (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · gl casca (covering of a nut) · se skálžu (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · bg снаря́д (hollow usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a mortar or a cannon) · nrf cruque (hard covering of an egg) · fi varjo (emaciated person) · kk қабыршақ (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · cy coden (pod) · gd cochall (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · cs lastura (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ccc ijs̈hopa (covering of a nut) · sh ljuska (hard covering of an egg) · to ngaʻasi (covering of a nut) · cmn 殼 /壳 (hard covering of an egg) · be чарапа́шка (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ta ஓடு (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ar قِشْر (hard covering of an egg) · da muslingeskal (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · to ngeʻesi (covering of a nut) · ky раковина (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · ja 甲羅 (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · be шалупа́йка (hard covering of an egg) · et munakoor (hard covering of an egg) · fa لاک (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · ja 殻 (hard covering of an egg) · fr interface système (computing: general-purpose environment) · fr carapace (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · yag lakaš (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · hi खोल (hard covering of an egg) · cs krunýř (overlapping hard plates comprising the armor covering armadillo's body) · it mallo (covering of a nut) · ru па́нцирь (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · ml തോട് (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · cs skořápka (business: legal entity that has no operations) · cy plisg (covering of a nut) · ru па́нцирь (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · gd cochall (pod) · pl łuska (casing of an artillery projectile) · sv hylsa (casing of an artillery projectile) · pl skorupa (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · cmn 貝 /贝 (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · fi runko (music: body of a drum) · fi kuori (business: legal entity that has no operations) · hu kagyló (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · cs slupka (psychological barrier to social interaction) · ca closca (entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects) · txb wrāko (hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates) · lad kashkara (hard covering of an egg) · cmn 蛋殼 /蛋壳 (hard covering of an egg) · sm una (conjoined scutes that comprise the "shell" of a tortoise or turtle) · pt carapaça (overlapping hard plates comprising the armor covering armadillo's body) · gl esqueleto (emaciated person)

shell en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • /ʃɛl/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • (US) audio
  • /ʃɛl/ New Zealand, salary–celery merger
  • /ʃæl/ Australia, salary–celery merger
  • /ʃel/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
  • shĕl

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelH- Proto-Indo-European *skol-yeh₂ Proto-Germanic *skaljō Proto-West Germanic *skallju Old English sċiell Middle English schelle English shell From Middle English schelle, from Old English sċel, sċell, sċiell, sċil, sċill, sċyl, sċyll, from Proto-West Germanic *skallju, from Proto-Germanic *skaljō (“shell; husk; rind; peel”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelH- (“to cut; to separate, split”). Cognates Cognate with Dutch schil (“bark, rind, skin; crust; shell; slice”), Danish skæl (“scale; dandruff”), Faroese and Icelandic skel (“shell”), Norwegian Bokmål skjell (“shell; scale”), Norwegian Nynorsk skjel (“shell; bivalve; scale; carapace”), Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌰𐌻𐌾𐌰 (skalja, “brick, tile”), French écaille (“scale; shell”), Friulian scae (“scale”), Italian scaglia (“scale; flake, sliver; splinter”); also Breton killi (“grove”), Cornish kelli (“grove”), Irish coill (“forest, wood”), Manx keyll (“forest, wood; grove, plantation”), Scottish Gaelic coille (“forest”), Welsh celli (“grove”), Latin scalpō (“to scratch; to carve”), Ancient Greek σκᾰ́λλω (skắllō, “to hoe, stir up”), Albanian çel (“to open up; to sprout; to hatch up; to rise”), Lithuanian skelti (“to crack, split”), Bulgarian, Macedonian, and Russian скала́ (skalá, “cliff, rock”), Czech skála (“rock”), Polish skała, skáła, szkała (“rock”), Slovak and Slovene skala (“rock”), Ukrainian скала́ (skalá), ска́ля (skálja, “cliff, rock”), Armenian քաղել (kʻaġel, “to pick; to gather; to mow”), Sanskrit कॢप् (kḷp, “to order; to manage; to perform; to create; to cut”). More at shale. Doublet of sheal. * (computing): From being viewed as an outer layer of interface between the user and the operating-system internals.

Meanings

  1. To remove the outer covering or shell of something.
  2. To bombard, to fire projectiles at, especially with artillery.
    • There wasn’t even a shed there, and she was shelling the bush. 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 203:
    • The guns shelled the enemy trenches.
  3. (informal) To disburse or give up money, to pay. (Often used with out).
  4. (intransitive) To fall off, as a shell, crust, etc.
  5. (intransitive) To cast the shell, or exterior covering; to fall out of the pod or husk.
    • Wheat or rye shells in reaping.
    • Nuts shell in falling.
  6. (intransitive) To switch to a shell or command line.
    • Automenu is a good program to try, and offers a fair amount of protection - but, unfortunately, it's one of those systems that allow users to shell to DOS. 1993, Robin Nixon, The PC Companion, page 115:
  7. To form shallow, irregular cracks (in a coating).
  8. To form a shelling.
  9. (slang, transitive) To drop (the ball).
    • He shelled it, and dislocated his finger in the process. 2022, Nicholas Brookes, An Island's Eleven: The Story of Sri Lankan Cricket:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
shells Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
shelled Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
shelled Tense=Past lexicographic
shelling Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Deriveds

shell out · shellable · like shelling peas · sheller

Translations (39)

cmn 剝 /剥 (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · fr décortiquer (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · gl descascar (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · sv ömsa (to cast the shell, or exterior covering) · cmn 去殼 /去壳 (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · gl cascar (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · nl schillen (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · qu hephq'ay (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · nl pellen (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · gl debagar (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · pt descascar (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · fi kuoria (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · fr écosser (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · sv skala (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · gl degraer (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · fi kuoriutua (to cast the shell, or exterior covering) · gl debullar (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · es desvainar (pea) (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · bg обе́лвам (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · mi kōwhā (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · gl degrañar (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · fi kuoriutua (to fall off, as a shell, crust, etc.) · es descascarar (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · it sborsare (informal: to disburse or give up money, to pay) · nl kraken (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · fr douiller (informal: to disburse or give up money, to pay) · mi kōwhiti (of shellfish) (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · mi kōhā (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · gl desembolsar (informal: to disburse or give up money, to pay) · ja 支払う (informal: to disburse or give up money, to pay) · it sgranare (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · ja 剥く (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · nl (pea) doppen (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · fi törsätä (informal: to disburse or give up money, to pay) · bg пла́щам (informal: to disburse or give up money, to pay) · it sgusciare (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · bg ро́ня се (to fall off, as a shell, crust, etc.) · yue 剝 /剥 (to remove the outer covering or shell of something) · mi miri (to remove the outer covering or shell of something)