ETYM Old Eng. hulke a heavy ship, AS. hulc a light, swift ship; akin to Dutch hulk a ship of burden, German holk, Old High Germ. holcho; perh. from Late Lat. holcas. Related to Wolf, Holcad.
A ship that has been wrecked and abandoned.

1. (dialect England) To move ponderously
2. To appear impressively large or massive; loom