Prompt 216: Shells

From April 14, 2012

Shells, this week's prompt comes from Sandy Carlson of Writing in Faith.  

Here is the meaning of the word by way of the Online Etymology Dictionary:

O.E. sciell, scill, Anglian scell "seashell, eggshell," related to O.E. scealu "shell, husk," from P.Gmc. *skaljo "divide, separate" (cf. W.Fris. skyl "peel, rind," M.L.G. schelle "pod, rind, egg shell," Goth. skalja "tile"), with the notion of "covering that splits off," from PIE root *(s)kel- "to cut, cleave" (cf. O.C.S. skolika"shell," Rus. skala "bark").

Sense of "mere exterior" is from 1650s; that of "hollow framework" is from 1791. Meaning "structure for a band or orchestra" is attested from 1938. Militaryuse (1640s) was first of hand grenades, in reference to the metal case in which the gunpowder and shot were mixed; shell shock first recorded 1915. Shell game"a swindle" is from 1890, from a version of three-card monte played with a pea and walnut shells.

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