husky

[ 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.

Informal. a big, strong person.

OTHER WORDS FOR husky

1 robust, brawny, strapping.

2 harsh, gruff, rasping, throaty.

See synonyms for husky on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of husky

First recorded in 1545–55 for def. 3, 1720-25 for def. 2, 1860–65 for def. 7, and 1890–95 for def. 1; husk + -y¹, -y²

OTHER WORDS FROM husky

husk·i·ly, adverbhusk·i·ness, noun

Words nearby husky

husk, husking, husking bee, Huskisson, husk tomato, husky, Huss, Hussain, hussar, Hussein, Hussein I

Other definitions for husky (2 of 2)

husky²

[ huhs-kee ]

/ ˈhʌs ki /

noun, plural husk·ies.

Eskimo dog.

Siberian husky.

Husky, Canadian Slang.

an Inuit.
the language of the Inuit.

Origin of husky

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use husky in a sentence

In 2018, an eight-year-old Siberian husky named Loki became the first dog to ascend all 58 peaks.
Could Thru-Hiking Colorado’s Fourteeners Become a Thing?|Fred Dreier|September 27, 2021|Outside Online
The otters’ leak capacity varied from roughly two to seven times greater than that recorded for other mammals including Alaskan huskies, humans, horses, elephant seals, and rats.
Sea otters defy our understanding of metabolism|Claire Maldarelli|July 9, 2021|Popular-Science
Depending on the song, or the moment, Springsteen’s voice has the texture of rust on a tailpipe, or moss on the cool underside of a rock, or the husky warmth and mystery of how your dad or grandfather’s whiskers felt when you were little.
The Reopening of Springsteen on Broadway Brought Broadway Out of Hibernation—and One Packed Theater Into a Brighter Future|Stephanie Zacharek|June 28, 2021|Time
Husky crows awake in the pine trees, and doves under the temple eaves.
The Dragon Painter|Mary McNeil Fenollosa

Steel your heart against the seductive charms of these Husky belles!
Left on Labrador|Charles Asbury Stephens
We bade a hasty farewell to the Husky belles, and handed them into their barge.
Left on Labrador|Charles Asbury Stephens
I wonder what our Husky friends thought of this little bombardment!
Left on Labrador|Charles Asbury Stephens
Why, you don't doubt your ability to win the affections of a Husky belle, do you?
Left on Labrador|Charles Asbury Stephens

British Dictionary definitions for husky (1 of 2)

husky¹

/ (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 forms of husky

huskily, adverbhuskiness, noun

Word Origin for husky

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

British Dictionary definitions for husky (2 of 2)

husky²

/ (ˈhʌskɪ) /

noun plural huskies

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

Canadian slang

a member of the Inuit people
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

husky

OTHER WORDS FOR husky

Origin of husky

OTHER WORDS FROM husky

Words nearby husky

Other definitions for husky (2 of 2)

Origin of husky

Words related to husky

How to use husky in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for husky (1 of 2)

Derived forms of husky

Word Origin for husky

British Dictionary definitions for husky (2 of 2)

Word Origin for husky