Nutshell

n.
  1. The shell or hard external covering in which the kernel of a nut is inclosed.
  2. Hence, a thing of little compass, or of little value.
  3. (Zoöl.) A shell of the genus Nucula.
    4. in a nutshell
    in a summarized and very abbreviated form; -- of statments, descriptions, reports, and other communications; as, to describe the convention in a nutshell.
    To be in a nutshell or To lie in a nutshell, ,
    to be within a small compass; to admit of very brief or simple determination or statement.