See Also: shell(1)(dictionary)
shell(2)(dictionary)
shell(encyclopedia)
fig-shell(medicine)
ear-shell(medicine)
top-shell(medicine)
ark shell(medicine)
K shell(medicine)
Shell(medicine)
wreath-shell(medicine)

shell (sh)




Artillery projectile, cartridge case, or shotgun cartridge.

It originated in the 15th century as a container for metal or stone shot, dispersed when the container burst after leaving the gun. Explosive shells, in use by the 16th century, were hollow cast-iron balls filled with gunpowder and lit by a fuse. Until the 18th century, such shells were used only in high-angle fire (including mortars). In the 19th century, shells were adopted for direct-fire artillery, notably in the form of shrapnel. Modern artillery shells consist of a casing (usually steel), a propelling charge, and a bursting charge; the propelling charge is ignited by a primer at the base of the shell and the bursting charge by a fuse in the nose. In rifle, pistol, and machine-gun ammunition, the word usually signifies the brass casing that contains the propulsive charge. In shotgun ammunition, the shell is the entire cartridge, including shot, powder, primer, and case.