Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BULK, n. [W. bwlg, bulk; balciaw, to swell, to be proud; Ir. balc, great, strong; Russ. bulikayu, to boil, to bubble; D. bulken, to low or bellow; Dan. bulk, a bunch on the back; Sax. bulgian, to low.]

1. Magnitude of material substance; whole dimensions; size of a thing; as, an ox or 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. – Swift. Addison.
3. Main fabric. – Shak.
4. The whole content of a ship's hold for the stowage of goods. – Encyc.
5. A part of a building jutting out. – Shak. To break bulk, in seamen's language, is to begin to unload. – Mar. Dict. Laden in bulk, having the cargo loose in the hold, or not inclosed in boxes, bales or casks.