The Collaborative International Dictionary
Shell \Shell\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Shelling.]
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.
To separate the kernels of (an ear of Indian corn, wheat, oats, etc.) from the cob, ear, or husk.
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To throw shells or bombs upon or into; to bombard; as, to shell a town.
To shell out, to distribute freely; to bring out or pay, as money. [Colloq.]
Usage examples of "to shell out".
When Old Borden dug in his pocket to shell out for Lizzie's trip to Europe, the eye of God on the pyramid blinked to see daylight, but no extravagance is too excessive for the miser's younger daughter who is the wild card in his house and, it seems, can have anything she wants, play ducks and drakes with her father's silver dollars if it so pleases her.
But then, the government paid for all their food, while his folks had to shell out for what went down his throat.
But of course they expected to be stroked like everyone else, and at least he had not had to shell out money for them.
Anyone who might have consented to serve as a character would have demanded money - more money than he was in a position to shell out.
Id been terrified that I was going have to shell out three hundred dollars for one of the monstrosities.