husky

1 of 5

adjective (1)

hus·​ky ˈhə-skē 

huskier; huskiest

: hoarse with or as if with emotion

huskily

ˈhə-skə-lē 

adverb

huskiness

ˈhə-skē-nəs 

noun

husky

2 of 5

noun (1)

hus·​ky ˈhə-skē 

plural huskies

1

: siberian husky

2

: a heavy-coated working dog of the New World arctic region

husky

3 of 5

adjective (2)

hus·​ky ˈhə-skē 

huskier; huskiest

1

: burly, robust

2

: large

husky

4 of 5

noun (2)

hus·​ky ˈhə-skē 

plural huskies

: one that is husky

husky

5 of 5

adjective (3)

ˈhə-skē 

huskier; huskiest

: resembling, containing, or full of husks

Synonyms

Adjective (1)

• coarse
• croaking
• croaky
• grating
• gravel
• gravelly
• gruff
• hoarse
• rasping
• raspy
• rusty
• scratchy
• throaty

Adjective (2)

• beefy
• brawny
• burly
• hefty
• hulking
• mesomorphic

Examples of husky in a Sentence

Adjective (1)

a voice that was husky from an afternoon of cheering on the team

Adjective (2)

a husky weight lifter

the neighbors bought a fairly husky lawn mower for their small yard

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Okay, to be fair, Aliana has a cute, husky voice that sounds particularly good singing Christmas carols. —Emma Specter, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2024

The country titan performed a series a barnburners that ran on his husky, soulful voice. —Ramon Ramirez, Austin American-Statesman, 5 Oct. 2024

Noun

On August 7, 2023, Daniella Abreu was getting ready for a nighttime walk with her dog, a 60-lb. husky named Blu. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 2 Oct. 2024

In the secondary, the two first-team safety spots plus husky (slot) are being manned by a trio of veterans in Moore, Keon Sabb and DeVonta Smith. —Kennington Smith Iii, The Athletic, 1 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

probably from husk huskiness, from obsolete husk to have a dry cough

Noun (1)

shortening of Huskemaw, Uskemaw Eskimo, from Cree aškime·w; akin to Montagnais (Algonquian language of eastern Canada) aiachkime8 Micmac, Eskimo — more at eskimo

Adjective (2)

probably from husk entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

circa 1722, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

1852, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective (2)

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1864, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (3)

1552, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing husky

• Siberian husky

Kids Definition

husky

1 of 3 adjective

hus·​ky

ˈhəs-kē

huskier; huskiest

: hoarse sense 2

huskily

ˈhəs-kə-lē

adverb

huskiness

-kē-nəs

noun

husky

2 of 3 noun

hus·​ky

plural huskies

1

: a heavy-coated working dog especially of the New World arctic region

2

: siberian husky

husky

3 of 3 adjective

hus·​ky

huskier; huskiest

: burly, robust

Etymology

Adjective

probably derived from an obsolete sense of husk, meaning "to have a dry cough"

Noun

probably an altered form of Huskemaw, Uskemaw "Eskimo," from Cree aškime·w (same meaning)

Adjective

probably from husk "a hard outer covering"