%shel%

(Zool.) A species of shell (Cypræa argus), beautifully variegated with spots resembling those in a peacock's tail. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) A marine bivalve shell belonging to the genus Arca and its allies. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) (a) A marine gastropod of the genus Crepidula. The species are numerous. It is so named from its form and interior deck. (b) A marine univalve shell of the genus Cymba. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A bomb. See Bomb, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. something or someone that stuns or amazes, especially suddenly and unexpectedly; as, the news of the president's affair was a political bombshell; a blonde bombshell. [ PJC ]

n.; pl. Bookshelves A shelf to hold books. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) A marine univalve shell of the genus Bulla and allied genera, belonging to the Tectibranchiata. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. buschel, boischel, OF. boissel, bussel, boistel, F. boisseau, LL. bustellus; dim. of bustia, buxida (OF. boiste), fr. pyxida, acc. of L. pyxis box, Gr. pyxi`s. Cf. Box. ] 1. A dry measure, containing four pecks, eight gallons, or thirty-two quarts. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The Winchester bushel, formerly used in England, contained 2150.42 cubic inches, being the volume of a cylinder 181/2 inches in internal diameter and eight inches in depth. The standard bushel measures, prepared by the United States Government and distributed to the States, hold each 77.6274 pounds of distilled water, at 39.8° Fahr. and 30 inches atmospheric pressure, being the equivalent of the Winchester bushel. The imperial bushel now in use in England is larger than the Winchester bushel, containing 2218.2 cubic inches, or 80 pounds of water at 62° Fahr. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A vessel of the capacity of a bushel, used in measuring; a bushel measure. [ 1913 Webster ]

Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and not to be set on a candlestick? Mark iv. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A quantity that fills a bushel measure; as, a heap containing ten bushels of apples. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In the United States a large number of articles, bought and sold by the bushel, are measured by weighing, the number of pounds that make a bushel being determined by State law or by local custom. For some articles, as apples, potatoes, etc., heaped measure is required in measuring a bushel. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A large indefinite quantity. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The worthies of antiquity bought the rarest pictures with bushels of gold, without counting the weight or the number of the pieces. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The iron lining in the nave of a wheel. [ Eng. ] In the United States it is called a box. See 4th Bush. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Busheled p. pr. & vb. n. Busheling. ] [ Cf. G. bosseln. ] (Tailoring) To mend or repair, as men's garments; to repair garments. [ U. S. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A duty payable on commodities by the bushel. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A tailor's assistant for repairing garments; -- called also busheler. [ Local, U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. the shell of a clam. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. a dredging bucket with hinges like the shell of a clam.
Syn. -- grapple. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. One of the shells or valves of a cockle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A light boat. [ 1913 Webster ]

To board the cockleshell in those plunding waters. W. Black. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A machine that separates the kernels of corn from the cob. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. dis- + helm helmet. ] To deprive of the helmet. [ Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Lying stark,
Dishelmed and mute, and motionlessly pale. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zoöl.) any of various large edible marine gastropod mollusks of the genus Haliotis, having a flattened ear-shaped shell with a pearly interior; -- called also sea-ear. See Abalone.
Syn. -- abalone. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. The shell or exterior covering of an egg. Also used figuratively for anything resembling an eggshell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zoöl.) A smooth, white, marine, gastropod shell of the genus Ovulum, resembling an egg in form. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. of a pale, yellowish-white color; as, an eggshell ceiling and light green walls. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

2. (Architecture) having a smooth but not glossy texture like that of a hen's egg; as, a latex paint giving an eggshell finish. Also referred to as matte glaze or non-lustrous glaze. [ PJC ]

v. t. To shelter. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A marine univalve shell of the genus Pyrula, or Ficula, resembling a fig in form.

n. (Zool.) One of numerous species of marine gastropod shells, belonging to Ranella and allied genera. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) A large, handsome, marine, univalve shell (Triton femorale). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A sharp-edged, tubular, marine shell, of the genus Vermetus; also, the pinna. See Vermetus. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Unyielding; insensible to argument; uncompromising; strict. [ Colloq., U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To hide in a shell. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ From the native name. ] (Zool.) The shell of a large Dentalium (Dentalium pretiosum), formerly used as shell money, and for ornaments, by the Indians of the west coast of North America. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A mollusklike marine animal with bivalve shell having a pair of arms bearing tentacles for capturing food, found worldwide.
Syn. -- brachiopod. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

(Zool.) A large, pearly, spiral, marine shell (Turbo margaritaceus), from the Pacific Islands. It is used as an ornament. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A chiton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The shelf of a mantel. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) Any spiral marine shell of the genus Persona, having a curiously twisted aperture. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The shell or hard external covering in which the kernel of a nut is inclosed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, a thing of little compass, or of little value. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) A shell of the genus Nucula. [ 1913 Webster ]

in a nutshell in a summarized and very abbreviated form; -- of statments, descriptions, reports, and other communications; as, to describe the convention in a nutshell. --
To be in a nutshell or
To lie in a nutshell,
, to be within a small compass; to admit of very brief or simple determination or statement. “The remedy lay in a nutshell.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

adj. Made in large quantities and intended to be used without modifications; -- similar to off-the-rack, but not restricted to clothing. Opposite of custom-made, made-to-order, or one-of-a-kind. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. (Zool.) A small British and American pond snail (Bulinus hypnorum). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small white polished marine shells of the genus Olivella. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The shell of any marine mollusk. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE., fr. sheld a shield, probably in allusion to the ornamentation of shields. See Shield. ] Variegated; spotted; speckled; piebald. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ Perhaps for sheld dapple. Cf. Sheldrake. ] (Zool.) A chaffinch. [ Written also sheldapple, and shellapple. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The common sheldrake. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Sheld + drake. ] 1. (Zool.) Any one of several species of large Old World ducks of the genus Tadorna and allied genera, especially the European and Asiatic species. (Tadorna cornuta syn. Tadorna tadorna), which somewhat resembles a goose in form and habit, but breeds in burrows. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It has the head and neck greenish black, the breast, sides, and forward part of the back brown, the shoulders and middle of belly black, the speculum green, and the bill and frontal bright red. Called also shelduck, shellduck, sheldfowl, skeelduck, bergander, burrow duck, and links goose. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The Australian sheldrake (Tadorna radja) has the head, neck, breast, flanks, and wing coverts white, the upper part of the back and a band on the breast deep chestnut, and the back and tail black. The chestnut sheldrake of Australia (Casarca tadornoides) is varied with black and chestnut, and has a dark green head and neck. The ruddy sheldrake, or Braminy duck (Casarca rutila), and the white-winged sheldrake (Casarca leucoptera), are related Asiatic species. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any one of the American mergansers. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The name is also loosely applied to other ducks, as the canvasback, and the shoveler. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Sheld variegated + duck. ] (Zool.) The sheldrake. [ Written also shellduck. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Shelves [ OE. shelfe, schelfe, AS. scylfe; akin to G. schelfe, Icel. skjālf. In senses 2 & 3, perhaps a different word (cf. Shelve, v. i.). ] 1. (Arch.) A flat tablet or ledge of any material set horizontally at a distance from the floor, to hold objects of use or ornament. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A sand bank in the sea, or a rock, or ledge of rocks, rendering the water shallow, and dangerous to ships. [ 1913 Webster ]

On the tawny sands and shelves. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

On the secret shelves with fury cast. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mining) A stratum lying in a very even manner; a flat, projecting layer of rock. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Naut.) A piece of timber running the whole length of a vessel inside the timberheads. D. Kemp. [ 1913 Webster ]

To lay on the shelf, to lay aside as unnecessary or useless; to dismiss; to discard. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Abounding in shelves; full of dangerous shallows. “A shelfy coast.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Full of strata of rock. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The tillable fields are in some places . . . so shelfy that the corn hath much ado to fasten its root. Carew. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. shelle, schelle, AS. scell, scyll; akin to D. shel, Icel. skel, Goth. skalja a tile, and E. skill. Cf. Scale of fishes, Shale, Skill. ] 1. A hard outside covering, as of a fruit or an animal. Specifically: (a) The covering, or outside part, of a nut; as, a hazelnut shell. (b) A pod. (c) The hard covering of an egg. [ 1913 Webster ]

Think him as a serpent's egg, . . .
And kill him in the shell. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) (Zool.) The hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of mollusks, crustaceans, and some other invertebrates. In some mollusks, as the cuttlefishes, it is internal, or concealed by the mantle. Also, the hard covering of some vertebrates, as the armadillo, the tortoise, and the like. (e) (Zool.) Hence, by extension, any mollusks having such a covering. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mil.) A hollow projectile, of various shapes, adapted for a mortar or a cannon, and containing an explosive substance, ignited with a fuse or by percussion, by means of which the projectile is burst and its fragments scattered. See Bomb. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The case which holds the powder, or charge of powder and shot, used with breechloading small arms. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Any slight hollow structure; a framework, or exterior structure, regarded as not complete or filled in; as, the shell of a house. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A coarse kind of coffin; also, a thin interior coffin inclosed in a more substantial one. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. An instrument of music, as a lyre, -- the first lyre having been made, it is said, by drawing strings over a tortoise shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

When Jubal struck the chorded shell. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. An engraved copper roller used in print works. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. pl. The husks of cacao seeds, a decoction of which is often used as a substitute for chocolate, cocoa, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Naut.) The outer frame or case of a block within which the sheaves revolve. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. A light boat the frame of which is covered with thin wood or with paper; as, a racing shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. Something similar in form or action to an ordnance shell; specif.: (a) (Fireworks) A case or cartridge containing a charge of explosive material, which bursts after having been thrown high into the air. It is often elevated through the agency of a larger firework in which it is contained. (b) (Oil Wells) A torpedo. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

12. A concave rough cast-iron tool in which a convex lens is ground to shape. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

13. A gouge bit or shell bit. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Message shell, a bombshell inside of which papers may be put, in order to convey messages. --
Shell bit, a tool shaped like a gouge, used with a brace in boring wood. See Bit, n., 3. --
Shell button. (a) A button made of shell. (b) A hollow button made of two pieces, as of metal, one for the front and the other for the back, -- often covered with cloth, silk, etc. --
Shell cameo, a cameo cut in shell instead of stone. --
Shell flower. (Bot.) Same as Turtlehead. --
Shell gland. (Zool.) (a) A glandular organ in which the rudimentary shell is formed in embryonic mollusks. (b) A glandular organ which secretes the eggshells of various worms, crustacea, mollusks, etc. --
Shell gun, a cannon suitable for throwing shells. --
Shell ibis (Zool.), the openbill of India. --
Shell jacket, an undress military jacket. --
Shell lime, lime made by burning the shells of shellfish. --
Shell marl (Min.), a kind of marl characterized by an abundance of shells, or fragments of shells. --
Shell meat, food consisting of shellfish, or testaceous mollusks. Fuller. --
Shell mound. See under Mound. --
Shell of a boiler, the exterior of a steam boiler, forming a case to contain the water and steam, often inclosing also flues and the furnace; the barrel of a cylindrical, or locomotive, boiler. --
Shell road, a road of which the surface or bed is made of shells, as oyster shells. --
Shell sand, minute fragments of shells constituting a considerable part of the seabeach in some places. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Shelled p. pr. & vb. n. Shelling. ] 1. To strip or break off the shell of; to take out of the shell, pod, etc.; as, to shell nuts or pease; to shell oysters. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To separate the kernels of (an ear of Indian corn, wheat, oats, etc.) from the cob, ear, or husk. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To throw shells or bombs upon or into; to bombard; as, to shell a town. [ 1913 Webster ]

To shell out, to distribute freely; to bring out or pay, as money. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To fall off, as a shell, crust, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cast the shell, or exterior covering; to fall out of the pod or husk; as, nuts shell in falling. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be disengaged from the ear or husk; as, wheat or rye shells in reaping. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) See Sheldafle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A species of hickory (Carya alba) whose outer bark is loose and peeling; a shagbark; also, its nut. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Having a shell. [ 1913 Webster ]