husk / həsk/ • n. the dry outer covering of some fruits or seeds. ∎  a dry or rough outer layer or coating, esp. when empty of its contents: the husks of dead bugs | fig. I expect whatever husk of a person emerges from the car to be sheet-white. • v. 1. [tr.] remove the husk or husks from.2. [with direct speech] say something in a husky voice: “Help me,” husked Miles.

husk. Classical ornament in the form of a stylized bell-flower, nut-shell, or wheat-ear, usually in series, linked together in drops, festoons, garlands, or strings. When composed to form a husk-garland, the vertical parts ‘hanging’ on each side often have nut-shells diminishing in size towards the bottom, although, like festoons, they increase in size towards the centre of the catenary curve.

husk XIV. of uncert. orig.; cf. LG. hūske little house, core of fruit, sheath = MDu. hūskijn (Du. huisken), dim. of hūs HOUSE.
Hence husky full of husks, dry as a husk XVI; dry in the throat XVIII; (N. Amer.) tough, hefty XIX.

husk (or hull) The outer cellulose covering of seeds and grains. In wheat it is loosely attached and removed during threshing; in rice it is firmly attached. High in fibre content and of limited use as animal feed.

Husk

a down or group of hares—Strutt, 1801.