\Hull\, n. [OE. hul, hol, shell, husk, AS. hulu; akin to G.
h["u]lle covering, husk, case, h["u]llen to cover, Goth.
huljan to cover, AS. helan to hele, conceal. [root]17. See
{Hele}, v. t., {Hell}.]
1. The outer covering of anything, particularly of a nut or
   of grain; the outer skin of a kernel; the husk.
2. [In this sense perh. influenced by D. hol hold of a ship,
   E. hold.] (Naut.) The frame or body of a vessel, exclusive
   of her masts, yards, sails, and rigging.
         Deep in their hulls our deadly bullets light.
                                               --Dryden.
{Hull down}, said of a ship so distant that her hull is
   concealed by the convexity of the sea.

\Hull\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Hulled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Hulling}.]
1. To strip off or separate the hull or hulls of; to free
   from integument; as, to hull corn.
2. To pierce the hull of, as a ship, with a cannon ball.

\Hull\, v. i.
To toss or drive on the water, like the hull of a ship
without sails. [Obs.] --Shak. Milton.