Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - husky

 I. adjective  (huskier; -est)  Date: 1552 resembling, containing, or full of husks  II. adjective  (huskier; -est)  Etymology: probably from husk huskiness, from obsolete husk to have a dry cough  Date: circa 1722 hoarse with or as if with emotion  • huskily adverb  • huskiness noun  III. noun  (plural huskies)  Etymology: shortening of Huskemaw, Uskemaw Eskimo, from Cree askime•w; akin to Montagnais (Algonquian language of eastern Canada) aiachkime8 Micmac, Eskimo — more at Eskimo  Date: 1852  1. a heavy-coated working dog of the New World arctic region  2. Siberian ~  IV. noun  (plural huskies)  Date: 1864 one that is ~  V. adjective  (huskier; -est)  Etymology: probably from 1husk  Date: 1869  1. burly, robust  2. large