The bone structure of the head that protects the brain and supports the face. It includes the cranium and the bones of the jaw.
“Skull” probably comes from a Scandinavian source, related to Old Norse “skalli,” meaning “a bald head.” The exact origin is uncertain, but it has long been used in English for the bony head. It replaced the older Old English word “hēafod‑bān,” literally “head‑bone.”
The word “skull” may be related to the idea of baldness—just bare bone, no hair. Culturally, skulls have been symbols of death, danger, and even wisdom in many societies. Your own skull is a literal helmet nature grew for your brain.
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