Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sciell; akin to Old English scealu shell, Old Norse skel, Lithuanian skelti to split, Greek skallein to hoe
Date: before 12th century
1 a: a hard rigid usually largely calcareous covering or support of an animal b: the hard or tough often thin outer covering of an egg (as of a bird or reptile) — see egg illustration 2: the covering or outside part of a fruit or seed especially when hard or fibrous 3: shell material (as of mollusks or turtles) or their substance 4: something that resembles a shell: as a: a framework or exterior structure; especially: a building with an unfinished interior b (1): an external case or outside covering <the shell of a ship>(2): a thin usually spherical layer or surface enclosing a space or surrounding an object <an expanding shell of gas around a neutron star>c: a casing without substance <mere effigies and shells of men — Thomas Carlyle>d: an edible crust for holding a filling <a pastry shell><a taco salad in a tortilla shell>e:band shellf: a small beer glass g: an unlined article of outerwear 5: a shell-bearing mollusk 6: an impersonal attitude or manner that conceals the presence or absence of feeling <he retreated into his shell> 7: a narrow light racing boat propelled by one or more persons pulling oars or sculls 8: any of the regions occupied by the orbits of a group of electrons of approximately equal energy surrounding the nucleus of an atom 9 a: a projectile for cannon containing an explosive bursting charge b: a metal or paper case which holds the charge of powder and shot or bullet used with breech-loading small arms 10: a plain usually sleeveless blouse or sweater 11: a company or corporation that exists without assets or independent operations as a legal entity through which another company or corporation can conduct various dealings
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