skull

Meanings

Noun

• The main bones of the head considered as a unit; including the cranium, facial bones, and mandible.
• These bones as a symbol for death; death's-head.
• The mind or brain.
• A crust formed on the ladle, etc. by the partial cooling of molten metal.
• The crown of the headpiece in armour.
• A shallow bow-handled basket.

Verb

• To hit in the head with a fist, a weapon, or a thrown object.
• To strike the top of (the ball).

Related

Similar words

• brainpan
• harnpan

Origin

• From Middle English sculle, scolle (also schulle, scholle), probably from Old Norse skalli ("bald head, skull"), itself probably related to Old English sċealu ("husk"). Compare Swedish skalle, Norwegian skalle.
• Alternatively, perhaps from Old Norse skoltr, skolptr, akin to Icelandic skoltur, dialectal Swedish skult, skulle, Middle Dutch scolle, scholle, Middle Low German scholle, schulle. Compare also Old High German sciula, skiula.
• See school.