Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Bulk

Bulk

(bŭlk)
,
Noun.
[OE.
bulke
,
bolke
, heap; cf. Dan.
bulk
lump, clod, OSw.
bolk
crowd, mass, Icel.
b[GREEK]lkast
to be bulky. Cf.
Boll
,
Noun.
,
Bile
a boil,
Bulge
,
Noun.
]
1.
Magnitude of material substance; dimensions; mass; size;
as, an ox or ship of great
bulk
.
Against these forces there were prepared near one hundred ships; not so great of
bulk
indeed, but of a more nimble motion, and more serviceable.
Bacon.
2.
The main mass or body; the largest or principal portion; the majority;
as, the
bulk
of a debt
.
The
bulk
of the people must labor, Burke told them, “to obtain what by labor can be obtained.”
J. Morley.
3.
(Naut.)
The cargo of a vessel when stowed.
4.
The body.
[Obs.]
Shak.
My liver leaped within my
bulk
.
Turbervile.
Barrel bulk
.
See under
Barrel
.
To break bulk
(Naut.)
,
to begin to unload or more the cargo.
In bulk
,
in a mass; loose; not inclosed in separate packages or divided into separate parts; in such shape that any desired quantity may be taken or sold.
Laden in bulk
,
Stowed in bulk
,
having the cargo loose in the hold or not inclosed in boxes, bales, or casks.
Sale by bulk
,
a sale of goods as they are, without weight or measure.
Syn. – Size; magnitude; dimension; volume; bigness; largeness; massiveness.

Bulk

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Bulked
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Bulking
.]
To appear or seem to be, as to bulk or extent; to swell.
The fame of Warburton possibly
bulked
larger for the moment.
Leslie Stephen.

Bulk

,
Noun.
[Icel.
bālkr
a beam, partition. Cf.
Balk
,
Noun.
&
Verb.
]
A projecting part of a building.
[Obs.]
Here, stand behind this
bulk
.
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition


Bulk

BULK

,
Noun.
1.
Magnitude of material substance; whole dimensions; size of a thing; as an ox or a ship of great bulk.
2.
The gross; the majority; the main mass or body; as the bulk of a debt; the bulk of a nation.
3.
Main fabric.
4.
The whole content of a ship's hood for the stowage of goods.
5.
A part of a building jutting out.
To break bulk, in seamen's language, is to begin to unload.
Laden in bulk, having the cargo loose in the hold, or not inclosed in boxes, bales or casks.