husky
pronunciation
How to pronounce husky in British English:
UK [ˈhʌski]
How to pronounce husky in American English:
US [ˈhʌski]
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- Noun:
- breed of heavy-coated Arctic sled dog
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- Adjective:
- muscular and heavily built
- deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion
Word Origin
- husky (adj.)
- "hoarse," c. 1722 in reference to a cattle disease (of persons, 1740), from husk on the notion of "dry as a husk." Earlier (1550s) "having husks." Sense of "tough and strong" (like corn husks) is first found 1869, American English. Related: Huskily; huskiness.
- husky (n.)
- "Eskimo dog," 1852, Canadian English, earlier (1830) hoskey "an Eskimo," probably shortened variant of Ehuskemay (1743), itself a variant of Eskimo. The moment any vessel is noticed steering for these islands [Whalefish Islands], the Esquimaux, or "Huskies,"* as the Danes customarily term them, come off in sufficient numbers to satisfy you that you are near the haunts of uncivilized men, and will afford sufficient information to guide any stranger to his anchorage. *"Husky" is their own term. I recollect the chorus to a song at Kamtchatka was "Husky, Husky." ["Last of the Arctic Voyages," London, 1855]
Example
- 1. A husky cuban voice belted into the night , rich and sensuous over the rhythmic drumming .
- 2. His speaking voice , a gruff husky tenor , added to the impression of fractiousness he conveyed .
- 3. Outside , beneath a portico jewelled as a dragonfly , silhouettes talked in a husky language then returned to the concert within .
- 4. When he finally spoke , after midnight on january 28th , a day when hundreds of thousands across the breadth of egypt had battled furiously with his police , it was with a husky voice and the petulance of a master betrayed by bungling servants .