husk en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /hʌsk/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- /hʊsk/ (Northern-England)
- (US) audio
Etymology
From Middle English huske, husk (“husk”). Perhaps from Old English *husuc, *hosuc (“little covering, sheath”), diminutive of hosu (“pod, shell, husk”), from Proto-West Germanic *hosā, from Proto-Germanic *husǭ (“covering, shell, leggings”), from Proto-Indo-European *kawəs- / kawes- (“cover”). If so, equivalent to hose + -ock. Alternatively from Middle Low German hûs(e)ken, hü̂seken (“little house, sheath”), Middle Dutch husekijn (“little house, core of fruit, case”), diminutive of hûs (“house”). Compare Dutch huisje, German Häuschen, both also used for “snailshell”.
Meanings
-
The dry, leafy or stringy exterior of certain vegetables or fruits, which must be removed before eating the meat inside.
A coconut has a very thick husk.
-
(figuratively) Any form of useless, dried up, and subsequently worthless exterior of something.
Unlike dogs, cats have retractable claws which do not wear down when walking. Instead, cats pull the old husk of nail from their claws by raking them down some convenient piece of wood, to expose a new sharp claw underneath.
1991, Morgan Kerr, Norman Kerr, An Introduction to Cat Care, page 63:His attorney was a dried-up husk of a man.
- The supporting frame of a run of millstones.
-
(collective, rare) A group of hares.
He may 50 be as mad as a whole husk of hares in March, but he’s nothing to do with us, thank goodness
2000, Hamilton Crane, Miss Seton by Moonlight:The image is of a husk of hares surprised by some intruder and scattering in all directions to wooded safety.
1998, Lucinda A. Stark Huffaker, Creative Dwelling, Atlanta, Georgia: Scholars Press, page 156:Isn't it just like that in your average husk of hares.
1994, Hornig, Dana, Seize the Day: For People Over 49, Stamford, Connecticut: Cove Press, page 304:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| husks | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
husklike · cornhusk · huskless · husk tomato · unhusk · dehusk · rice husk
Translations (119)
ml തൊണ്ട് (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · kix āchú (any worthless exterior) · ru кожура́ (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · bg обелка (any worthless exterior) · fa سبوس (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · hu kukoricacsuhé (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · cs slupka (any worthless exterior) · cs skořápka (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · hu pelyva (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · ru скорлупа́ f hard (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · es cáscara (any worthless exterior) · hu háncs (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · gv bleayst (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · it riccio (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · sh ljuska (any worthless exterior) · pl łuska (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · de Schote (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · gl casca (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · be лупіна (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · es sombra (any worthless exterior) · pt casca (any worthless exterior) · gl pela (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · de Getreidespelze (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · sh ljuska (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · grc λέπος (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · ja 外皮 (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · hu tok (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · cmn 外皮 (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · bg люспа (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · sh kožura (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · enm huske (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · fi kuori (any worthless exterior) · gl carepa (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · fi kuori (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · es cáscara (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · sh lupina (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · de Schale (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · bg обвивка (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · hu csuhé (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · fi suojuslehti (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · gd cochall (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · izh akana (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · fa سپوس (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · gl poma (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · ca closca (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · fi kuoret (any worthless exterior) · it buccia (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · cmn 空壳 (any worthless exterior) · ga crotal (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · pdt Schluw (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · uk луска́ (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · gl concho (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · cy cib (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · ms sekam (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · ca clovella (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · es farfolla (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · rar puru (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · hy թեփ (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · mzn سوس (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · ar قِشْرَة (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · be лузга (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · cmn 殼 /壳 (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · mk мешунка (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · cs slupka (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · be шалупіна (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · haw pulu (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · txb pīsäl (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · hu maghéj (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · hu héj (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · pl łupina (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · it scorza (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · gl casula (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · grc λέπυρον (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · cmn 躯壳 (any worthless exterior) · hu burok (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · ta உமி (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · ca clofolla (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · de Hülle (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · sv agn (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · ms sabut (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · es farfolla (any worthless exterior) · he קליפה (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · hu csésze (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · cs obal (any worthless exterior) · mi pakawhā (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · sh ljuštura (any worthless exterior) · nl schil (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · gl folello (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · fr écale (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · sm pulu (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · ru ко́рка (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · be лушпінне (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · ja 殻 (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · ccc ijs̈hopa (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · es faramalla (any worthless exterior) · nl waardeloos omhulsel (any worthless exterior) · gl prana (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · ro coajă (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · bth budaang (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · pt casca (any worthless exterior) · da avne (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · de Hülse (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · ty puru (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · fi akana (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · ru оболо́чка (any worthless exterior) · tr kabuk (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · nb skall (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · hu magburok (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · la glūma (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · mi kōpaki (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · hu kukoricaháncs (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · be лупінне (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · pt casca (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · ru шелуха́ f dry (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · ja 外被 (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · be шалупінне (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · hu hüvely (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits) · de Hülle (any worthless exterior) · gl carolo (exterior of certain vegetables or fruits)