shuck

¹ American  

[shuhk] / ʃʌk /

noun

shucks plural

1. a husk or pod, as the outer covering of corn, hickory nuts, chestnuts, etc.

2. Informal. Usually shucks something useless or worthless.

   They don't care shucks about the project.

3. the shell of an oyster or clam.

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verb (used with object)

1. to remove the shucks from.

   to shuck corn.

2. to remove or discard as or like shucks; peel off.

   to shuck one's clothes.

3. Slang. to get rid of (often followed byoff ).

   a bad habit I couldn't shuck off for years.

interjection

1. Informal. shucks, (used as a mild exclamation of disgust or regret.)

shuck ² American  

[shuhk] / ʃʌk /

verb (used with object)

Slang.

1. to deceive or lie to.

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shuck British  

/ ʃʌk /

noun

1. the outer covering of something, such as the husk of a grain of maize, a pea pod, or an oyster shell

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verb

1. to remove the shucks from

2. informal to throw off or remove (clothes, etc)

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• shucker
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• shucks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of shuck¹

First recorded in 1665–75; origin uncertain

Origin of shuck²

1955–60; origin uncertain; perhaps from exclamation shucks! ( see shuck ¹) taken as a feigned sign of rural ignorance or a sham apology

Example Sentences

"Once a piece has completely broken off, it no longer produces earthquakes because the rocks aren't stuck together anymore," Shuck explained.

From Science Daily • Oct. 25, 2025

Other stamps in the Myths and Legends collection depict Blodeuwedd of Welsh mythology, Irish heroic figure Fionn mac Cumhaill, the spectral hound of East Anglia, Black Shuck, selkies and a grindylow.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2025

Joshua Shuck, a nephew of Lewis, said his grandmother never gave up hope that he was still alive until she died last year.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 3, 2021

Shuck oysters and place them on a kosher salt-lined plate so the juices don’t spill.

From Fox News • Aug. 5, 2021

Shuck it all and kiss a Griever goodnight.

From "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner