husky

¹ American  

[huhs-kee] / ˈhʌs ki /

adjective

huskier, huskiest

1. big and strong; burly.

   Synonyms:

   strapping, brawny, robust

2. (of the voice) having a semiwhispered vocal tone; somewhat hoarse, as when speaking with a cold or from grief or passion.

   Synonyms:

   throaty, rasping, gruff, harsh

3. like, covered with, or full of husks.

4. made in a size meant for the larger or heavier than average boy.

   size 18 husky pants.

5. for, pertaining to, or wearing clothing in this size.

   the husky department; husky boys.

---

noun

plural

huskies

1. a size of garments meant for the larger or heavier than average boy.

2. Informal. a big, strong person.

husky ² American  

[huhs-kee] / ˈhʌs ki /

noun

plural

huskies

1. Eskimo dog.

2. Siberian husky.

3. Canadian Slang. Husky,

   1. an Inuit.

   2. the language of the Inuit.

---

husky ¹ British  

/ ˈhʌskɪ /

noun

1. a breed of Arctic sled dog with a thick dense coat, pricked ears, and a curled tail

2. slang

   1. a member of the Inuit people

   2. the Inuit language

---

husky ² British  

/ ˈhʌskɪ /

adjective

1. (of a voice, an utterance, etc) slightly hoarse or rasping

2. of, like, or containing husks

3. informal big, strong, and well-built

---

Other Word Forms

• huskily adverb
• huskiness noun

Etymology

Origin of husky¹

First recorded in 1545–55 husky ¹ for def. 3, 1720-25 husky ¹ for def. 2, 1860–65 husky ¹ for def. 7, and 1890–95 husky ¹ for def. 1; husk + -y ¹, -y ²

Origin of husky²

First recorded in 1870–75; shortening of husky dog, husky breed; compare Newfoundland and Labrador dialect Husky “an Inuit from Labrador,” earlier Huskemaw, Uskemaw, ultimately from the same Algonquian source as Eskimo

Example Sentences

Spiro favors crawling tempos and unadorned piano melodies, which leave more room for her husky voice.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I promise you, Jonah,” he said in a husky voice.

From Literature

Her voice was husky; he could tell that she felt nearly as bad as he did.

From Literature

“Is… is my pop lonely?” he asked, his voice soft and a little bit husky, like he’d come down with a cold in the last thirty seconds.

From Literature

Togo is Mom’s husky, named after a famous Alaskan sled dog.

From Literature

Related Words

• muscular
• stocky
• stout
• strapping