husk
Americannoun
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the dry external covering of certain fruits or seeds, especially of an ear of corn.
-
the enveloping or outer part of anything, especially when dry or worthless.
verb (used with object)
noun
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the external green or membranous covering of certain fruits and seeds
-
any worthless outer covering
verb
noun
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
Explanation
A husk is the fibrous covering of a seed or a fruit that's usually removed before you eat it. To make white rice, the husk is removed from the plant, leaving behind a smooth grain. When you hear the word husk, you may think of the thick leaves that cover an ear of corn. Any vegetable, legume, seed, or fruit with a protective covering has a husk, which is also called a hull or chaff. You can use this word as a verb, too: "Are you going to husk all that corn by yourself? It's almost time for dinner!" Some etymologists trace this word back to the Dutch huuskyn, "little house."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Tears are hard to summon for a man whose soul and spirit have long since departed, leaving behind just the husk of a human being.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
But it will continue leading the court toward becoming, to quote Chief Justice John Roberts’ dismissive description of the key precedent in this case, “a dried husk of whatever people used to think it was.”
From Slate • Dec. 11, 2025
"A white dwarf is the leftover husk of a star that has finished fusing its hydrogen," said Burgasser.
From Science Daily • Nov. 9, 2025
Standing near the fire-blackened husk of an Israeli-hit tank, Yamen Zughayer, a Druze faction commander, looked down a road leading out of Sweida.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 25, 2025
He wet the edges of the corn husk with his tongue to seal it.
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
