U.S. The husk of coarse leaves enclosing the ear of Indian corn.
1808. Med. Jrnl., XIX. 122. They scrubbed him with corn-husks.
1864. E. Sargent, Peculiar, II. 221. The corn-husk punishment…. Dry corn-husks are … lighted, and the burning embers are whipped off … so as to fall in showers of live sparks on the naked back.
So Corn-husker, one who strips the husks from the ears of Indian corn; also a machine for this purpose. Corn-husking, the husking of Indian corn; a gathering of neighbors at the house of a farmer to assist him in husking his Indian corn, usually finishing up with feasting and dancing; also called husking bee.
1852. Haliburton, Traits Amer. Hum. (Bartlett). There was a corn-husking, and I went along with Sal Stebbins.
1886. S. Longfellow, Life Longfellow, I. ii. 19. In autumn entering into the work and fun of the corn-husking.
1890. Boston (Mass.) Jrnl., Dec. A big corn-husking match … each contestant husked and cribbed about 150 bushels.
Mod. U.S. Newspaper Advt., The best corn-husker made.
