Definition of SKULL (original) (raw)

1

: the skeleton of the head of a vertebrate forming a bony or cartilaginous case that encloses and protects the brain and chief sense organs and supports the jaws

skulled

adjective

… the craniate (skulled) vertebrates … —Eugene Solomon Talbot

transitive verb

2

: to unintentionally hit (a golf ball or shot) with the bottom edge of the clubface

Synonyms

Examples of skull in a Sentence

Noun

He had a fractured skull. paleoanthropologists recently found the skull of a prehistoric man in a remote area of the desert

Recent Examples on the Web

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

According to Dateline, medical examiners attributed Karen's cause of death to a skull fracture. —Jordana Comiter, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024 The kitten had multiple skull fractures, hemorrhages and a cut to its brain, the warrant states. —Christine Dempsey, Connecticut Post, 1 Nov. 2024

And, most incredibly, not after skulling a bunker shot on the par-5 14th, then hacking out to 30 feet. —Daniel Rapaport, SI.com, 13 June 2019 The ball was sitting on such tight grass that he easily could have chunked or skulled it. —Daniel Rapaport, SI.com, 17 June 2019 See all Example Sentences for skull

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English skulle, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialect skulle skull

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1945, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of skull was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near skull

Cite this Entry

“Skull.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skull. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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Last Updated: 9 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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