Meaning
The outer covering of a fruit or seed.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
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”).
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 14 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-09-10UADEHLN
- 2026-03-23UCNLHED
- 2026-01-30LGURNOH
- 2025-07-29UANHCLT
- 2025-06-30LAUHEPV
- 2025-04-08UAHEDGL
- 2024-10-26HAULDEB
- 2024-03-28UAMHGLP
- 2024-02-01UMBLEDH
- 2023-11-09UCEHLNO
- 2023-10-20LUATCHN
- 2023-06-19HATFELU
+2 earlier appearances in the archive.