hulk

1 of 2

noun

ˈhəlk 

1

a

: a heavy clumsy ship

b(1)

: the body of an old ship unfit for service

(2)

: a ship used as a prison

—usually used in plural

every prisoner sent to the hulks

—Kenneth Roberts

c

: an abandoned wreck or shell (as of a building or automobile)

2

: one that is bulky or unwieldy

hulk

2 of 2

verb

hulked; hulking; hulks

intransitive verb

1

dialectal, England : to move ponderously

2

: to appear impressively large or massive : loom

factories hulked along the river

Synonyms

Noun

• clod
• clodhopper
• gawk
• lout
• lubber
• lug
• lump
• Neanderthal
• oaf
• palooka

Examples of hulk in a Sentence

Noun

The ship's rusting hulk is still visible on the rocks.

the burned out hulk of the factory

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The gleaming and modern hulk might have been rejected by the district’s conservative populace, especially since the Mubaraks had supported hospital fundraising efforts. —Sushrut Jangi, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2014

Alighieri Casa’s debut collection includes pebble-shape candlestick holders, curvaceous cutlery sets inspired by hulks of rock and tribal hunting tools, bottle openers in the shape of sea creatures, and small dishes that resemble liquid shards of gold. —Laura Hawkins, Vogue, 16 July 2024

Verb

Barack and Michelle’s departure for the coasts and broken promises surrounding the forthcoming Obama Center, whose husk now hulks over Jackson Park like Sauron’s Tower, have soured many a local activist on the former president. —Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2024

The ban was touted as saving girls from being injured by hulking transgender girls mowing down teammates and taking home all the trophies. —Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English hulke, from Old English hulc, probably from Medieval Latin holcas, from Greek holkas, from helkein to pull — more at sulcus

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

hulk

1 of 2 noun

ˈhəlk 

1

a

: a heavy clumsy ship

b

: the body of an old ship unfit for service or of an abandoned wreck

2

: a bulky or clumsy person or thing

hulk

2 of 2 verb

: to appear impressively large

factories hulking along the river

hulking

ˈhəl-kiŋ

adjective