husk

[huhsk]

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.

verb (used with object)

1. to remove the husk from.

husk

¹

/ hʌsk /

noun

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

2. any worthless outer covering

verb

1. (tr) to remove the husk from

husk

²

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• husker noun
• husklike adjective
• unhusked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of husk¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of husk¹

C14: probably based on Middle Dutch huusken little house, from hūs house; related to Old English hosu husk, hūs _house

Example Sentences

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

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Gasa husked a coconut and used hand gestures to convey his idea.

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To make the resulting flour safe and digestible for humans, the outer husks and certain phenolic compounds must first be removed.

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Other forms of Metarhizium are already commonly cultivated around the world on cheap materials like chicken droppings, rice husks and wheat scraps that are readily available after harvest.

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It hints at the trend of hedge fund managers buying local publications to drain them until they’re husks of their former selves.

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Related Words

• chaff 
• pod 
• rind