skull

[ skuhl ]

noun

1. the bony framework of the head, enclosing the brain and supporting the face; the skeleton of the head.
2. the head as the center of knowledge and understanding; mind:

   to get literature's great ideas through our skulls.

3. Armor. the part of a helmet that covers the top of the head.

skull

/ skʌl /

noun

1. the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates See cranium cranial
2. derogatory.
   the head regarded as the mind or intelligence

   to have a dense skull

3. a picture of a skull used to represent death or danger

skull

/ skŭl /

1. The part of the skeleton that forms the framework of the head, consisting of the bones of the cranium, which protect the brain, and the bones of the face.
2. See more at skeleton

Other Words From

• skull-less adjective
• skull-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of skull¹

1175–1225; Middle English scolle < Old Norse skalli

Word History and Origins

Origin of skull¹

C13: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse skoltr, Norwegian skult, Swedish dialect skulle

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. out of one's skull, Slang. crazy; demented.

Example Sentences

The complete skull has been preserved almost intact, which the study highlights makes it one of the most significant finds of its kind.

From BBC

Dr Luis Chiappe, a co-lead author from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, added the discovery showed some of the birds flying over the heads of dinosaurs had a fully modern skull geometry more than 80 million years ago.

From BBC

Folic acid is particularly important in early pregnancy, aiding proper development of the baby's brain, skull and spinal cord.

From BBC

Cox, who had never heard of VDare, dove into the site, finding a trove of pseudoscientific articles on such subjects as measuring skull sizes and comparing Northern European and African head shapes to determine intelligence.

From Salon

"Bradley was blind because he shook him that hard, he snapped his optic nerve and he had a can of Coke’s worth of blood between his brain and his skull," Bradley's mum, Sharon Boocock, said.

From BBC

Related Words

• cranium
• scalp