hull

hull · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*kal-“hard”
2. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*ḱel-“to cover, hide”
3. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*hul-
4. Old English · inherited fromhulu“seed covering”
5. Middle English · inherited fromhul
6. English todayhull

From Middle English hul, hulle, holle (“seed covering, hull of a ship”), from Old English hulu (“seed covering”), from Proto-Germanic *hul-, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover, hide”); or possibly from Proto-Indo-European *kal- (“hard”). Compare Dutch hul (“hood”), German Hülle (“cover, wrap”), Hülse (“hull”); also Old Irish calad, calath (“hard”), Latin callus, callum (“rough skin”), Old Church Slavonic калити (kaliti, “to cool, harden”). For the sense development, compare French coque (“nutshell; ship's hull”), Ancient Greek φάσηλος (phásēlos, “bean pod; yacht”).

hull · noun, verb²

1. Middle English · inherited fromhole
2. Middle English · inherited fromholle
3. English todayhull

From Middle English holle, hoole (“hull, hold of a ship, ship”), of uncertain origin. Possibly a variant and special use of Etymology 1 above, conformed to hull. Alternatively, a variant of Middle English hole, hoole, holle (“hiding place, lair, den, shelter, compartment”, literally “hole, hollow”), related to Middle Dutch and Dutch hol (“hole, ship's cargo hold”). More at hole.

Hull · proper noun³

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*sew-“to press”
2. Proto-Celtic · derived from*soulos
3. Proto-Brythonic · derived from*hʉl
4. Middle English · inherited fromHull
5. English todayHull

The town in England is Inherited from Middle English Hull, Hul, Hulle, traditionally derived from Proto-Brythonic *hʉl, from Proto-Celtic *soulos, from Proto-Indo-European *sew- (“to press”); Breeze instead suggests derivation from hula, plural of hulu (“hut”). Chaucer's Hulle (for expected *Hul, *Hule) is presumably a hypercorrect Southern form. The surname is either from the English town or Middle English hulle, western variant of hylle (“hill”); many other place names are ultimately from the surname.

Words from the same roots