Quick definitions from WordNet (shell)

▸ noun:  the hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusc
▸ noun:  ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
▸ noun:  the housing or outer covering of something
▸ noun:  a very light narrow racing boat
▸ noun:  a rigid covering that envelops an object ("The satellite is covered with a smooth shell of ice")
▸ noun:  the exterior covering of a bird's egg
▸ noun:  the hard usually fibrous outer layer of some fruits especially nuts
▸ noun:  the material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals
▸ noun:  hard outer covering or case of certain organisms such as arthropods and turtles
▸ noun:  a metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners)
▸ verb:  look for and collect shells by the seashore
▸ verb:  hit the pitches of hard and regularly ("He shelled the pitcher for eight runs in the first inning")
▸ verb:  fall out of the pod or husk ("The corn shelled")
▸ verb:  remove from its shell or outer covering ("Shell the legumes")
▸ verb:  use explosives on ("The enemy has been shelling us all day")
▸ verb:  remove the husks from
▸ verb:  come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
▸ name:  A surname (common: 1 in 20000 families; popularity rank in the U.S.: #2399)

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▸ Word origin