shuck

¹

[ shuhk ]

noun

1. a husk or pod, as the outer covering of corn, hickory nuts, chestnuts, etc.
2. Usually shucks. Informal. something useless or worthless:

   They don't care shucks about the project.

3. the shell of an oyster or clam.

verb (used with object)

1. to remove the shucks from:

   to shuck corn.

2. to remove or discard as or like shucks; peel off:

   to shuck one's clothes.

3. Slang. to get rid of (often followed by off ):

   a bad habit I couldn't shuck off for years.

interjection

1. shucks, Informal. (used as a mild exclamation of disgust or regret.)

shuck

²

[ shuhk ]

verb (used with object)

, Slang.

1. to deceive or lie to.

shuck

/ ʃʌk /

noun

1. the outer covering of something, such as the husk of a grain of maize, a pea pod, or an oyster shell

verb

1. to remove the shucks from
2. informal.
   to throw off or remove (clothes, etc)

Derived Forms

• ˈshucker, noun

Other Words From

• shucker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shuck¹

First recorded in 1665–75; origin uncertain

Origin of shuck²

1955–60; origin uncertain; perhaps from exclamation shucks! ( shuck ¹ ) taken as a feigned sign of rural ignorance or a sham apology

Word History and Origins

Origin of shuck¹

C17: American dialect, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

In his search to learn about folklore in the BBC series Charlie Cooper's Myth Country, the star went to community events to talk about Black Shuck sightings, joined a metal detector group looking for ancient relics and even made his own crop circle.

From BBC

And they feel as much at home in New England as they do in California, Scott able to shuck oysters as easily as he flashes a hit-and-run sign, Sharon needing only two summers to properly incorporate the word “wicked,” as in, “It’s gonna be wicked hawt today,” into her vocabulary.

From Los Angeles Times

Ms. Andrews learned to shuck scallops there, and played “king of the hill” on the mound of discarded shells outside.

From New York Times

So, it came as a major surprise when I learned that several markets now advise their consumers to shuck their corn at home.

From Salon

Considering that several former in-store shuckers were compelled to abandon their old ways thanks to Reddit, we'll say the answer is to not shuck your corn in stores.

From Salon