bodyshell

B3O1D2Y4S1H4E1L1L1

noun

The main body of a motor car, that rests on the chassis and into which is fitted the engine, mechanical and electrical systems, seats etc.

OriginEnglish shell ← Middle English schelle ← Old English sċiell →
RareScrabble 18
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Meanings

nounbodyshell (plural bodyshells)

plural bodyshells · alternative body shell

  1. The main body of a motor car, that rests on the chassis and into which is fitted the engine, mechanical and electrical systems, seats etc.
  2. rail transportThe metal body of a rail vehicle, minus seats, doors and other fittings.

    Currently, bodyshells for units 810024/025 are on the weld line. […] In the paint shop are bodyshells for 810022/023, which are undergoing a meticulous process to ensure a high-quality finish.

    2024 December 27, Pip Dunn, “Network News: Hitachi pushes on with '810' assembly and testing”, in RAIL, number 1025, page 20

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰewdʰ-der.?
  2. Proto-Germanic*budagą
  3. Proto-West Germanic*bodag
  4. Old Englishbodiġ
  5. Middle Englishbodi
  6. Englishbody
  7. Proto-Indo-European*(s)kelH-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*skol-yeh₂
  9. Proto-Germanic*skaljō
  10. Proto-West Germanic*skallju
  11. Old Englishsċiell
  12. Middle Englishschelle
  13. Englishshell
  14. Englishbodyshell

From body + shell.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

bodyshell. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bodyshell

MLA

“bodyshell.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bodyshell. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bodyshell,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bodyshell.

Source: bodyshell on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.