Hollow

a. [A-S., D., & O. H. Ger. hol, N. H. Ger. hohl, Icel. holr, Dan. huul, Sw. hålig. See HOLE.]

1Sense 1. Containing an empty space, natural or artificial, within a solid substance; not solid; cavernous; open within; excavated in the interior; as, a hollow tree; a hollow rock; a hollow sphere.

Hollow with boards shalt thou make it. Ex. xxvii. 8.

2Sense 2. Reverberated from a cavity, or resembling such a reverberated sound; deep; low; as, a hollow roar. Dryden.

3Sense 3. Not sincere or faithful; false; deceitful; not sound; as, a hollow heart; a hollow friend. Milton.

Hollow eye, an eye sunk in its orbit.—Hollow newel (Arch.), an opening in the center of a winding staircase in place of a newel-post, the stairs being supported by the wall at the outer end.—Hollow quay (Arch.), a pier of stone or brick made behind the lock-gates of a canal, and containing a hollow or recess to receive the ends of the gates.—Hollow square. See SQUARE.—Hollow ware, hollow vessels;—a general trade name for hollow articles, such as cast-iron kitchen utensils, earthenware, and the like. Simmonds.

Synonyms—Concave; sunken; low; vacant; empty; void; false; faithless; deceitful; hollow-hearted.

n. 1. A cavity, natural or artificial; an unfilled space within any thing; a hole; a cavern; an excavation; as, the hollow of the hand, or of a tree. 2. A low spot surrounded by elevations; a depressed part of a surface; a concavity; a groove; a channel. Addison.

So as to make hollow, or empty of resources, strength, and the like; completely; utterly;—chiefly after the verb to beat, and often with all; as, he beat his competitors hollow; this story beats the other all hollow. [Colloq. and low.]

Hollo. See HOLLO.

(Synop., § 130), v. i. To shout; to hollo. Whisperings and hollowings are alike to a deaf ear. Fuller.

v. t. To urge or call by shouting. He has hollowed the hounds upon a velvet-headed knob-bler. W. Scott.