from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Bulk \Bulk\ (b[u^]lk), n. [OE. bulke, bolke, heap; cf. Dan. bulk
lump, clod, OSw. bolk crowd, mass, Icel. b?lkast to be bulky.
Cf. {Boll}, n., {Bile} a boil, {Bulge}, n.]
1. Magnitude of material substance; dimensions; mass; size;
as, an ox or ship of great bulk.
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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.
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2. The main mass or body; the largest or principal portion;
the majority; as, the bulk of a debt.
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The bulk of the people must labor, Burke told them,
"to obtain what by labor can be obtained." --J.
Morley.
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3. (Naut.) The cargo of a vessel when stowed.
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4. The body. [Obs.] --Shak.
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My liver leaped within my bulk. --Turbervile.
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{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.
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Syn: Size; magnitude; dimension; volume; bigness; largeness;
massiveness.
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