shuck

¹

[ shuhk ]

noun

1. a husk or pod, as the outer covering of corn, hickory nuts, chestnuts, etc.
2. Usually shucks. Informal. something useless or worthless:

   They don't care shucks about the project.

3. the shell of an oyster or clam.

verb (used with object)

1. to remove the shucks from:

   to shuck corn.

2. to remove or discard as or like shucks; peel off:

   to shuck one's clothes.

3. Slang. to get rid of (often followed by off ):

   a bad habit I couldn't shuck off for years.

interjection

1. shucks, Informal. (used as a mild exclamation of disgust or regret.)

shuck

²

[ shuhk ]

verb (used with object)

, Slang.

1. to deceive or lie to.

shuck

/ ʃʌk /

noun

1. the outer covering of something, such as the husk of a grain of maize, a pea pod, or an oyster shell

verb

1. to remove the shucks from
2. informal.
   to throw off or remove (clothes, etc)

Derived Forms

• ˈshucker, noun

Other Words From

• shucker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shuck¹

First recorded in 1665–75; origin uncertain

Origin of shuck²

1955–60; origin uncertain; perhaps from exclamation shucks! ( shuck ¹ ) taken as a feigned sign of rural ignorance or a sham apology

Word History and Origins

Origin of shuck¹

C17: American dialect, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

He was successful without “bowing or scraping” or “shucking and jiving,” as it was called back then.

From Time

That changed last week when Kennedy took his aw-shucks-country-boy-in-a-rumpled-suit shtick too far.

From The Daily Beast

On these plains, Shuck says, you can watch your dog run away for a week.

From Washington Post

Why is it so hard to shuck this notion that governments should cut spending and/or raise taxes in times of economic slack?

From The Daily Beast

Shuck went on to become a drill sergeant and Gabe was assigned to a new handler.

From The Daily Beast

Ultimately, Gabe was allowed to retire and was adopted by Shuck.

From The Daily Beast

My heart jump, my knees shuck, en my han' trimble; but I know I got ter git away fum dar.

From Project Gutenberg

He just stayed, and shuck hands with everybody, pleasant as a basket of chips; and he went home with David Gillespie.

From Project Gutenberg

He was dredful glad to see me, an shuck my hand as ef he thought there warn't no feelin in it.

From Project Gutenberg

For the shuck, as I see it, is exclusiveness, which is not valuable except to persons justly doubtful of their own merits.

From Project Gutenberg

Her face was so thin her eyes stood out like a bird's, and her cheek was the color of an old shuck of corn.

From Project Gutenberg