hulk

1 of 2

noun

ˈhəlk 

1

a

: a heavy clumsy ship

b(1)

: the body of an old ship unfit for service

(2)

: a ship used as a prison

—usually used in plural

every prisoner sent to the hulks

—Kenneth Roberts

c

: an abandoned wreck or shell (as of a building or automobile)

2

: one that is bulky or unwieldy

hulk

2 of 2

verb

hulked; hulking; hulks

intransitive verb

1

dialectal, England : to move ponderously

2

: to appear impressively large or massive : loom

factories hulked along the river

Synonyms

Noun

• clod
• clodhopper
• gawk
• lout
• lubber
• lug
• lump
• Neanderthal
• oaf
• palooka

Examples of hulk in a Sentence

Noun

The ship's rusting hulk is still visible on the rocks.

the burned out hulk of the factory

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Kadyrov’s fighters were instrumental in the final assault on Donetsk Airport in January, having fought for months to capture the wrecked hulk of buildings that once made up the passenger terminals. —Nicholas Waller, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2015

There were literal piles of dead and mangled Russians around the smoldering hulks. —David Axe, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024

Verb

Though Reacher is notably tall and muscular — Ritchson stands above six feet and is known for roles like Aquaman and Hawk — Paulie is hulking in comparison, with Richters being 7-foot-2 and 350 pounds. —Selome Hailu, Variety, 7 Dec. 2024

Called from his desk to a plush dining room where friends and family of his boss have gathered, An is asked to entertain everyone with an impromptu fighting exhibition against opponents including the Banker’s hulking son, Kevin (Kevin Lee). —Richard Kuipers, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English hulke, from Old English hulc, probably from Medieval Latin holcas, from Greek holkas, from helkein to pull — more at sulcus

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

hulk

1 of 2 noun

ˈhəlk 

1

a

: a heavy clumsy ship

b

: the body of an old ship unfit for service or of an abandoned wreck

2

: a bulky or clumsy person or thing

hulk

2 of 2 verb

: to appear impressively large

factories hulking along the river

hulking

ˈhəl-kiŋ

adjective