shell

SHELL, n.

1. The hard and stony covering of certain fruits and of certain animals; as the shell of a nut; the shell of an oyster or lobster. the shells of animals are crustaceous or testaceous; crustaceous as that of the lobster, and testaceous as that of the oyster and clam.

2. The outer coat of an egg.

3. The outer part of a house unfinished. We say of a building that wants the interior timbers or finishing, that it is a mere shell.

4. An instrument of music, like testudo in Latin; the first lyre being make, it is said, by drawing strings over a tortoise shell.

5. Oute ror superficial part; as the shell of religion.

6. A bomb.