Husked

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /hʌskt/

Definitions

1. To remove the dry outer layer from seeds or grains in preparation for consumption or processing is an essential agricultural step
2. Having the outer shell or protective layer stripped away, especially from seeds or grains
3. Describing food items from which the husk or rind has been taken off, making them ready for further use

Etymology: Husked is the past tense and past participle of "husk," so the story lies in the noun. The most striking possibility is that a husk may be named for a little house: one proposed origin links it to Middle Low German "hûseken," a diminutive of "hûs" meaning "house," the same idea behind Dutch "huisje" and German "Häuschen," which were also used for a snailshell. On this account, the sheath wrapping a seed or fruit was pictured as a tiny dwelling. The other proposed origin is older and less charming. It traces back to Old English "*husuc," a little covering or sheath, formed from "hosu," meaning pod or shell. Both routes lead to the idea of an outer covering, and the two candidates are hard to separate with certainty. English also has a link to a second word. The noun "husk" was partly shaped by its resemblance to "husky," which referred to the dry, rasping quality of a voice, so the sound of rustling dry leaves may have colored the word's form.

Synonyms: dehulled, peeled