noun

• (figuratively) Any form of useless, dried up, and subsequently worthless exterior of something.
  "His attorney was a dried-up husk of a man."

verb

• (transitive) To remove husks from.

verb

• (intransitive) To cough, clear one's throat.
  "Back on the veranda he said to Lace gravely, "I do believe that poor child's in the family way." Lace, tracing the pattern of the matting with his boot, husked, and murmured, "Yes — I think so."
• (transitive) To say huskily, to utter in a husky voice.
  "The French captain did not immediately respond; he looked at his men with a miserable expression [...]; still he hesitated, drooped, and finally husked, "Je me rends," with a look still more wretched."