E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Hulking.
A great hulking fellow. A great overgrown one. A hulk is a big, lubberly fellow, applied to Falstaff by Shakespeare. It means the body of an old ship. (See above.)
1
The monster sausage brought in on Christmas day was called a haulkin or haukin.
