The Collaborative International Dictionary
Hull \Hull\, n. [OE. hul, hol, shell, husk, AS. hulu; akin to G. h["u]lle covering, husk, case, h["u]llen to cover, Goth. huljan to cover, AS. helan to hele, conceal. [root]17. See Hele, v. t., Hell.]
The outer covering of anything, particularly of a nut or of grain; the outer skin of a kernel; the husk.
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[In this sense perh. influenced by D. hol hold of a ship, E. hold.] (Naut.) The frame or body of a vessel, exclusive of her masts, yards, sails, and rigging.
Deep in their hulls our deadly bullets light.
--Dryden.Hull down, said of a ship so distant that her hull is concealed by the convexity of the sea.
Usage examples of "hull down".
Before another hour passed by, the Earl of Wattlesfield was hull down over the horizon.
Abruptly, two then three more of the cutting beams lashed out from the cube, bisecting the primary hull down the centerline.
There was no uncertainty, no doubt, in that serene reply, and Gonzalez brought her own command to a halt and sought hull down positions to ride out Nike's last fight.
General Fitzroy Anson-Hugh Beauregard III said into the bulky mike hung from his vehicle helmet His command tank was a little back from the edge of the combat, hull down.
But there was a fair wind from the west and the boats were soon hull down and out of sight.