shell.html - See: IN ONE'S SHELL or INTO ONE'S SHELL, OUT OF ONE'S SHELL.

shell.html - {v.}, {informal} To pay or spend. * /Dick had to shell out a lot of money for his new car./

shell.html - noun
Also written shellsuit (Lifestyle and Leisure) A double-layered track suit with a showerproof outer nylon shell and a soft cotton lining. Etymology: Formed by compounding: a suit with an outer shell. History and Usage: The shell suit suddenly became a fashion garment for general leisure wear (whether or not this involved any kind of sport) at the end of the eighties, a time when hip hop culture had already popularized casual sportswear and turned the running-shoe or trainer into a status symbol. The shell suit has the advantage of doing away with the need for outdoor clothing, since the outer nylon shell is showerproof and moderately windproof, and the trapping of air between the layers makes for warmth. Shell suits are typically brightly coloured, with panels or flashes of different colours across the sleeves, legs, and front . Shell suit by Adidas. Strong nylon outer. Hardwearing suit features two side pockets, attractive contrast piping. Burlington Home Shopping Catalogue Autumn-Winter 1989/90, p.
554 With the trainers go a garish array of track suits--known as 'shell suits'. Daily Telegraph 9 June 1990, p. 13

shell.html - n. & v.
--n.

1 a the hard outer case of many marine molluscs (cockle shell). b the esp. hard but fragile outer covering of a bird's, reptile's, etc. egg. c the usu. hard outer case of a nut-kernel, seed, etc. d the carapace of a tortoise, turtle, etc. e the wing-case or pupa-case of many insects etc.
2 a an explosive projectile or bomb for use in a big gun or mortar. b a hollow metal or paper case used as a container for fireworks, explosives, cartridges, etc. c US a cartridge.
3 a mere semblance or outer form without substance.
4 any of several things resembling a shell in being an outer case, esp.: a a light racing-boat. b a hollow pastry case. c the metal framework of a vehicle body etc. d the walls of an unfinished or gutted building, ship, etc. e an inner or roughly-made coffin. f a building shaped like a conch. g the handguard of a sword.
5 a group of electrons with almost equal energy in an atom.

--v.

1 tr. remove the shell or pod from.
2 tr. bombard (a town, troops, etc.) with shells.
3 tr. provide or cover with a shell or shells.
4 intr. (usu. foll. by off) (of metal etc.) come off in scales.
5 intr. (of a seed etc.) be released from a shell.

come out of one's shell cease to be shy; become communicative. shell-bit a gouge-shaped boring bit. shell company an unimportant firm made the subject of a take-over bid because of its status on the Stock Exchange etc. shell egg an egg still in its shell, not dried etc. shell-heap (or -mound) hist. a kitchen midden. shell-jacket an army officer's tight-fitting undress jacket reaching to the waist. shell-lime fine quality lime produced by burning sea shells. shell-money shells used as a medium of exchange, e.g. wampum. shell out (also absol.) colloq.
1 pay (money).
2 hand over (a required sum). shell-out n.
1 the act of shelling out.
2 a game of snooker etc. played by three or more people. shell-pink a delicate pale pink. shell-shock a nervous breakdown resulting from exposure to battle. shell-shocked suffering from shell-shock. shell-work ornamentation consisting of shells cemented on to wood etc.

shelled adj. shell-less adj. shell-like adj. shellproof adj. (in sense 2a of n.). shelly adj. [OE sc(i)ell f. Gmc: cf. SCALE(1)]

shell.html - n. & v.
--n.

lac resin melted into thin flakes and used for making varnish (cf. LAC(1)).

--v.

tr. (shellacked, shellacking)
1 varnish with shellac.
2 US sl. defeat or thrash soundly. [SHELL + LAC, transl. F laque en ÷cailles lac in thin plates]

shell.html - n.
sl. an old sailor.