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

See Examples For:

shuck shucks

The actor learned to shuck oysters and clean fish to play a mentor to a teenage Anthony Bourdain in the new movie “Tony.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

One of my fondest food-related memories growing up is watching my father shuck corn at our local supermarket.

From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2023

I’ll put one of my oyster plates in the freezer while I shuck the oysters from the farmers market.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2023

Our food writers have recommended the roasted oysters in chipotle bourbon butter with toasted baguette, raw oysters on the half shell or trying to shuck yourself for a DIY experience.

From Seattle Times ● May 29, 2022

Refrain: Turn out here and shuck this com, Oh!

From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry

During his $45 two-hour tours that embark from a dock at Schooner Landing, Holmes offers a steady patter of oyster-related wisecracks, as his partner, Olga Oros, shucks and hands out shellfish.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

Whenever she gets asked about her historic home runs, the red-hot, red-haired hitter is like, shucks: “I mean, it’s incredible,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2026

The NFL issued a $10 million fine — so, shucks, poor Dan will have to put his next super yacht on layaway — and shifted day-to-day control of the team to his wife, Tanya.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 23, 2022

He might as well have said, "Aw, shucks."

From Fox News ● Feb. 5, 2022

It was hot work, and the corn shucks made my skin itch and sting till sometimes I’d wake up at night scratching like I’d stumbled into a patch of bull nettles.

From "Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson