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definitions

husky

1
[ huhs-kee ]
/ ˈhʌs ki /
||
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adjective, husk·i·er, husk·i·est.

big and strong; burly.
(of the voice) having a semiwhispered vocal tone; somewhat hoarse, as when speaking with a cold or from grief or passion.
like, covered with, or full of husks.
made in a size meant for the larger or heavier than average boy: size 18 husky pants.
for, pertaining to, or wearing clothing in this size: the husky department; husky boys.

noun, plural husk·ies.

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

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RELATED WORDS

hoarse, gruff, throaty, stocky, strapping, muscular, stout, rasping, rough, guttural, stalwart, harsh, loud, raucous, croaky, Herculean, brawny, gigantic, hefty, mighty

Nearby words

  1. husker,
  2. husking,
  3. husking bee,
  4. huskisson,
  5. huskisson, william,
  6. huss,
  7. huss, john,
  8. hussain,
  9. hussar,
  10. hussein

Origin of husky

1
First recorded in 1545–55; husk + -y1
Related formshusk·i·ly, adverbhusk·i·ness, noun

husky

2
[ huhs-kee ]
/ ˈhʌs ki /

noun, plural husk·ies. Informal.

a big, strong person.

Origin of husky

2
1865–70; noun use of husky1, with the suffix taken as -y2

husky

3
[ huhs-kee ]
/ ˈhʌs ki /

noun, plural husk·ies. (sometimes initial capital letter)

Eskimo dog.
Siberian Husky.
Canadian Slang.
  1. an Inuit.
  2. the language of the Inuit.

Origin of husky

3
1870–75; by ellipsis from husky dog, husky breed; compare Newfoundland and Labrador dial. Husky a Labrador Inuit, earlier Huskemaw, Uskemaw, ultimately < the same Algonquian source as Eskimo
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for husky

British Dictionary definitions for husky

husky

1
/ (ˈhʌskɪ) /

adjective huskier or huskiest

(of a voice, an utterance, etc) slightly hoarse or rasping
of, like, or containing husks
informal big, strong, and well-built
Derived Formshuskily, adverbhuskiness, noun

Word Origin for husky

C19: probably from husk, from the toughness of a corn husk

noun plural huskies

a breed of Arctic sled dog with a thick dense coat, pricked ears, and a curled tail
Canadian slang
  1. a member of the Inuit people
  2. the Inuit language

Word Origin for husky

C19: probably based on Eskimo
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for husky
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper