n. [ Prob. for hulsk, and from the same root as hull a husk. See Hull a husk. ] 1. The external covering or envelope of certain fruits or seeds; glume; hull; rind; in the United States, especially applied to the covering of the ears of maize. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The supporting frame of a run of millstones. [ 1913 Webster ]

Husks of the prodigal son (Bot.), the pods of the carob tree. See Carob. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Husked p. pr. & vb. n. Husking. ] To strip off the external covering or envelope of; as, to husk Indian corn. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Covered with a husk. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Stripped of husks; deprived of husks. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ From Husky. ] In a husky manner; dryly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The state of being husky. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Roughness of sound; harshness; hoarseness; as, huskiness of voice. G. Eliot. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act or process of stripping off husks, as from Indian corn. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A meeting of neighbors or friends to assist in husking maize; -- called also husking bee. [ U.S. ] “A red ear in the husking.” Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Husk, n. ] Abounding with husks; consisting of husks. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Prob. for husty; cf. OE. host cough, AS. hwōsta; akin to D. hoest, G. husten, OHG. huosto, Icel. hōsti. See Wheeze. ] Rough in tone; harsh; hoarse; raucous; as, a husky voice. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Powerful; strong; burly. [ Colloq., U. S. ]

A good, husky man to pitch in the barnyard. Hamlin Garland. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n.; pl. -kies /plu>. [ Cf. Eskimo. ] 1. An Eskimo. [ archaic ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. The Eskimo language. [ archaic ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

3. an Eskimo dog, especially a breed of strong heavy-coated dogs used to pull dogsleds in the Northern regions of North America. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]