husky

¹ American  

[huhs-kee] / ˈhʌs ki /

adjective

huskier, huskiest

1. big and strong; burly.

   Synonyms:

   strapping, brawny, robust

2. (of the voice) having a semiwhispered vocal tone; somewhat hoarse, as when speaking with a cold or from grief or passion.

   Synonyms:

   throaty, rasping, gruff, harsh

3. like, covered with, or full of husks.

4. made in a size meant for the larger or heavier than average boy.

   size 18 husky pants.

5. for, pertaining to, or wearing clothing in this size.

   the husky department; husky boys.

---

noun

plural

huskies

1. a size of garments meant for the larger or heavier than average boy.

2. Informal. a big, strong person.

husky ² American  

[huhs-kee] / ˈhʌs ki /

noun

plural

huskies

1. Eskimo dog.

2. Siberian husky.

3. Canadian Slang. Husky,

   1. an Inuit.

   2. the language of the Inuit.

---

husky ¹ British  

/ ˈhʌskɪ /

noun

1. a breed of Arctic sled dog with a thick dense coat, pricked ears, and a curled tail

2. slang

   1. a member of the Inuit people

   2. the Inuit language

---

husky ² British  

/ ˈhʌskɪ /

adjective

1. (of a voice, an utterance, etc) slightly hoarse or rasping

2. of, like, or containing husks

3. informal big, strong, and well-built

---

Other Word Forms

• huskily
  adverb
• huskiness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of husky¹

First recorded in 1545–55 husky ¹ for def. 3, 1720-25 husky ¹ for def. 2, 1860–65 husky ¹ for def. 7, and 1890–95 husky ¹ for def. 1; husk + -y ¹, -y ²

Origin of husky²

First recorded in 1870–75; shortening of husky dog, husky breed; compare Newfoundland and Labrador dialect Husky “an Inuit from Labrador,” earlier Huskemaw, Uskemaw, ultimately from the same Algonquian source as Eskimo

Explanation

If your voice is low and gruff, it's husky. A deep, gravelly voice is husky, and you're husky if you have a large, muscled, heavy body. You might even be a husky person with a husky voice. When husky is a noun, it's a northern breed of dog that's bred to pull a sled. Your Alaskan Husky could have a husky bark, and your voice might be the result of a bad cold, or it just might be the normal way you speak. The husky that describes a voice comes from husk, in the sense of "dry as a husk." The husky dog's root is from 1850s Canadian English, hoskey.

Example Sentences

The tests were ordered by 8 Below Husky Rescue, a rescue centre that first took the animals from the council.

From BBC • Jan. 11, 2026

A firm backed by David Cote is set to acquire Husky Technologies, a provider of injection-molding equipment, from Platinum Equity for roughly $5 billion including debt, according to people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 3, 2025

The man who bought and sold the world looks to be on Santa’s naughty list — so I doubt things in the new year will play out the way Husky Musky dreams.

From Salon • Dec. 26, 2024

The court granted Shehorn’s restraining order request, mandating that Pasqual stay at least 300 feet away from her, her vehicle, her home, workplace and her pet Husky.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2024

There was “Perry, Dad, and their Husky Dog,” “Perry and Dad Panning for Gold,” “Perry Bear-Hunting in Alaska.”

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote

Related Words

• muscular
• stocky
• stout
• strapping