ʃel n. & v. --n. 1 a
the hard outer case of
many marine molluscs (cockle shell). b the
esp. hard but
fragile outer
covering of a bird's, reptile's, etc. egg. c the usu. hard outer case of a nut-kernel,
seed, etc. d the
carapace of a
tortoise,
turtle, etc. e the wing-case or pupa-case of many insects etc. 2 a an
explosive projectile or
bomb for use in a
big gun or
mortar. b a
hollow metal or
paper case used as a
container for fireworks, explosives, cartridges, etc. c US a
cartridge. 3 a mere
semblance or outer
form without substance. 4
any of
several things resembling a shell in
being an outer case, esp.: a a
light racing-boat. b a hollow
pastry case. c the metal
framework of a
vehicle body etc. d the walls of an
unfinished or gutted
building,
ship, etc. e an
inner or roughly-made
coffin. f a building shaped like a
conch. g the handguard of a
sword. 5 a
group of electrons
with almost equal energy in an
atom. --v. 1 tr.
remove the shell or
pod from. 2 tr.
bombard (a
town, troops, etc.) with shells. 3 tr.
provide or
cover with a shell or shells. 4 intr. (usu. foll. by off) (of metal etc.)
come off in scales. 5 intr. (of a seed etc.) be released from a shell. øcome
out of one's shell
cease to be shy;
become communicative. shell-bit a gouge-shaped
boring bit. shell
company an
unimportant firm
made the
subject of a take-over
bid because of
its status on the
Stock Exchange etc. shell egg an egg still in its shell,
not dried etc. shell-heap (or -mound)
hist. a
kitchen midden. shell-jacket an
army officer's tight-fitting
undress jacket reaching to the
waist. shell-lime fine
quality lime produced by
burning sea shells. shell-money shells used as a
medium of exchange, e.g.
wampum. shell out (also absol.) colloq. 1 pay (money). 2
hand over (a required sum). shell-out n. 1 the
act of shelling out. 2 a game of
snooker etc. played by
three or
more people. shell-pink a
delicate pale
pink. shell-shock a
nervous breakdown resulting from
exposure to
battle. shell-shocked suffering from shell-shock. shell-work ornamentation consisting of shells cemented on to
wood etc. øøshelled adj. shell-less adj. shell-like adj. shellproof adj. (in
sense 2a of n.). shelly adj. [OE sc(i)ell f. Gmc:
cf. SCALE(1)]