husk

American  

[huhsk] / hʌsk /

noun

1. the dry external covering of certain fruits or seeds, especially of an ear of corn.

2. the enveloping or outer part of anything, especially when dry or worthless.

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verb (used with object)

1. to remove the husk from.

husk ¹ British  

/ hʌsk /

noun

1. the external green or membranous covering of certain fruits and seeds

2. any worthless outer covering

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verb

1. (tr) to remove the husk from

husk ² British  

noun

1. bronchitis in cattle, sheep, and goats, usually caused by lungworm infestation

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Other Word Forms

• husker noun
• husklike adjective
• unhusked adjective

Etymology

Origin of husk

1350–1400; Middle English huske, equivalent to hus- (akin to Old English hosu pod, husk) + -ke, weak variant of -ock

Example Sentences

Just across the street, Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” played over a loudspeaker as protesters gathered in front of the burned husk of the historic 1924 Business Block Building.

From Los Angeles Times

The burned husks of thousands of homes have been flattened.

From Los Angeles Times

Chief Justice John Roberts called that 90-year-old precedent, known as Humphrey’s Executor, a “dried husk,” suggesting that it has little relevance today.

From The Wall Street Journal

Blanck pointed out the window, to the burned husk of a Berkshire Hathaway office, asking: “Your office was over there, wasn’t it?”

From Los Angeles Times

"A white dwarf is the leftover husk of a star that has finished fusing its hydrogen," said Burgasser.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• chaff
• pod
• rind