skull

Everyday

1. The skull is the hard bony frame of the head that protects the brain. tree →
2. A skull with crossed bones is a sign of danger or poison, and on old flags of pirates. tree →

In the lessons

In science, the skull is part of the skeleton; it protects the brain, eyes and ears; a baby's skull has soft spots that close as it grows. In safety lessons, helmets protect the skull and brain on bikes and scooters. The skull and crossbones on a bottle means poison: do not touch. Phrases: skull and crossbones, thick skull.

Examples

• The skull protects your brain. tree →
• Wear a helmet to protect your skull. tree →
• We saw a dinosaur skull at the museum. tree →
• A skull and crossbones on a bottle means poison. tree →
• The pirate flag had a skull on it. tree →
• Your skull is made of several bones joined together. tree →
• The doctor looked at an X-ray of his skull. tree →
• A baby's skull has soft spots. tree →
• So they carried the skull into the sitting-room. tree →

Note

Countable. Rhymes with dull. Do not confuse with scull (an oar for rowing). An adult skull has about 22 bones that are joined together.

In Jewish tradition

Judges tells how a woman broke Abimelech's skull with a millstone. Second Kings tells how little was left of Jezebel after dogs ate her, as Elijah foretold.

Interpretation. Tradition sees both as punishment that fits the crime.

Examples

• And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull. (Prophets JDG.9.53, JPS 1917) tree →
• And they went to bury her; but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. (Prophets 2KI.9.35, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable. Rhymes with dull. Do not confuse with scull (an oar for rowing). An adult skull has about 22 bones that are joined together.