walnut-shelln.
/ˈwɔːlnʌtˌʃɛl/, U.S. /ˈwɔlˌnətˌʃɛl/, /ˈwɑlˌnətˌʃɛl/ 1. † b. Applied to the outer husk of the walnut.
a. The hard shell enclosing the seed of the walnut; also, either of the boat-shaped halves of this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > edible nuts or nut-trees > [noun] > walnut > shell of
walnut-shell?1523
c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame (Fairf. MS.) 1281 Y saugh him carien a wyndmelle Vnder a walsh note [MS. Bodley welshnote] shale.]
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxxiii There woll ryse pymples asmoch as halfe a walnutteshell.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iv. iii. 66 Heere is the cap your Worship did bespeake... Why 'tis a cockle or a walnut-shell.
1647 R. Stapleton tr. Juvenal Sixteen Satyrs 30 Spiders..at this day are worne in baggs or walnut-shells against a tertian ague.
1842 C. Dickens Amer. Notes I. ii. 37 In the gale of last night the life-boat had been crushed by one blow of the sea like a walnut-shell.
1885 W. Harcourt in S. Gwynn & G. M. Tuckwell Life Sir C. W. Dilke (1917) II. 187 I therefore spoke like a cat in walnut shells.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > edible nuts or nut-trees > [noun] > walnut > shell of > husk
walnut-shell1552
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Walnut shele, gulioca.
1770 Ann. Reg. 1769 128 They were a gang of gypsies..rubbing or dyeing a fine young girl, about seventeen, with walnut-shell.
c. In phrases implying extreme calmness of the sea. (Cf. 2.)
ΚΠ
1791 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse §6 The sea breaks upon them [sc. the Edystone rocks] in a frightful manner..when, figuratively speaking, you might go to sea in a Walnut-shell.
2. transferred. Applied to a boat, as a hyperbolical expression for extreme lightness and fragility. (†In the 17th cent. apparently used as the actual name of some fragile kind of boat.)
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > [noun] > small vessel > small boat > and fragile
bauble1596
walnut-shell1614
cockleshell1786
wash-deck tub1878
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > [noun] > small vessel > small boat > and fragile > extremely
walnut-shell1836
1614 T. Gentleman Englands Way to win Wealth 27 The great Fleet of Hollanders..that go in the Swoard-pinks,..Walnut-shels, and great and small Yeuers, 100. and 200. Saile at one time together.
1836 E. Howard Rattlin xxxiv Our little walnut-shell got on the top of one [wave].
1903 E. Childers Riddle of Sands xii. 125 Davies nursed our walnut-shell tenderly over their crests.
3. slang. A very light carriage.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > cart, carriage, or wagon > carriage for conveying persons > [noun] > types of carriage > light carriage > very
walnut-shell1810
1810 Sporting Mag. 36 232 Drawing a walnut-shell over a level road.
4. attributive.
ΚΠ
a1475 Bk. Quinte Essence (1889) 20 Of þis watir ȝeue to þe pacient, morowe and euen, a walnot-schelle ful at oonys.
1793–4 J. Aikin & A. L. Barbauld Evenings at Home (1805) II. 36 The pond where I used to sail my walnut-shell boats.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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