A large, heavy person or thing; the body or frame of a ship, especially when old and dismantled.
From Middle Dutch 'hulk' meaning a type of medieval ship. The word originally referred specifically to large cargo vessels, then extended to mean any large, unwieldy object or abandoned ship hull.
Before becoming synonymous with a green superhero, 'hulk' described the impressive but often derelict remains of great ships. The transition from maritime terminology to describing anything massively bulky reflects our tendency to use nautical metaphors for size and power.
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