Husk
/hʌsk/noun
The dry outer covering or shell of some fruits, seeds, or animals; something stripped away as useless outer matter.
Did you know?Husk comes from a Germanic word for a dry covering or shell, and it’s not related to any occult term—but its eerie image of an emptied outer form made it perfect for later metaphorical uses.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*skeu-
“To cover, conceal, or wrap”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*huską
“A shell, pod, or husk”
Old English
OE
hūsc
“A husk, shell, or outer covering”
Middle English
ME
husk
“A dry outer shell or covering”
Modern English
English
husk
“The dry outer covering of a seed, fruit, or grain; an empty shell”