subs. (American).—The lowest standard of value; spec. the paper currency of the Confederate States. [At the close of the Civil War these notes became as valueless as pea-SHUCKS.] Hence, LESS THAN SHUCK = less than nothing; TO CARE (or BE WORTH) NOT A SHUCK = to care (or be worth) little; SHUCKLESS = worthless; SHUCKS! = Nonsense: a contemptuous denial or refusal.
Verb. (American).—To undress; TO PEEL (q.v.).
1847. ROBB, Streaks of Squatter Life, 135. Ef them thar is all he’s got to offer, he aint wuth SHUCKS, and ef you don’t lick him fur his onmannerly note, you aint wuth SHUCKS, nuther.
1847. J. M. FIELD, The Drama in Pokerville, 68. Mr. Bagly was there, with five more barrels [revolver], to do the same for any gentleman who might say ‘SHUCKS!’
1848. W. T. THOMPSON, Major Jones’s Sketches of Travel, 117. I SHUCKED out of my old clothes and got into my new ones.
1851. How Mike Hooter Came Very Near ‘Wolloping’ Arch Coony, in Polly Peablossom’s Wedding and Other Tales. Arch would git as mad as all wrath … and the fust thing you knowed, he’d SHUCK OFF his coat. Ibid., p. 151. Arch he hopped down off’n his ole hoss, an’ commenced SHUCKIN’ his self fur er fight.
1856. W. T. THOMPSON, Major Jones’s Courtship, 48. One grate big yallow cur, what wasn’t worth SHUCKS to trail.
1888. Detroit Free Press, 8 Dec. Did you ever see a family which amounted to SHUCKS which didn’t keep a dog? Ibid., 29 Dec. Might hev bin the biggest lawyer or doctor or preacher in these Yunited Staits if he hadn’t bin so slashin’ SHUCKLESS.
