nutshells

Noun

nutshell (plural nutshells)

1. The shell that surrounds the kernel of a nut.
   • For men be now tratlers and tellers of tales;
     What tidings at Totnam, what newis in Wales,
     What ſhippis are ſailing to Scalis Malis?
     And all is not worth a couple of nut ſhalis.c. 1515–1516, published 1568, John Skelton, Againſt venemous tongues enpoyſoned with ſclaunder and falſe detractions &c.
2. A short book summarizing an area of law.
3. A small boat; a boat considered small in comparison to the seas.
   • [A]t last the fishing-line stood straight out behind, and the stone weights jumped along the tops of the billows, while the seas - notwithstanding the guiding hand of the pilot sought to avoid them - broke over our little nutshell, and sent the spray high above mast and sail.1886, Peter Christen Asbjø￵rnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 182

See all 4 meanings of nutshell