Husky Various early spellings. [abbrev. of some early variant of Eskimo, q.v.; see 1743 quote; cf. huskimaw] North DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
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1 n. — Slang, Often Derog.
a member of a large group of North American aborigines inhabiting the Arctic and northern coastal areas from Greenland to Siberia.
See also: Eskimo (def. 1)
- 1743  (1949)  [Among'st the Northward Indians, and Ehuskemay's they have neither of these beasts.]
- 1830  (1963)  . . . there was a cry that the river was full of Hoskies (Esquimaux); I went to the landing place and saw six kyaks and two large skin boats full of people.
- 1891  He personally knew only by hearsay received information that the Eskimos, by whalers called "Huskies," lived as far south as St. Lawrence Bay.
- 1923  But one of the Eskimo lads replied: "Some of the huskies"--he did not hesitate to use the term--"live so far from everybody that they have never heard of God."
- 1952  These sky pilots . . . smash up the Huskies' religion, then they feed 'em a damn great Book we've been arguing and fighting over for about two thousand years.
2 n.
the Eskimo language.
See also: Eskimo (def. 2)
- 1864  Carl Petersen no speak Husky. . . .
- 1949  "Alapah!" I would agree and hug my shoulders even though the day promised to be hot, and the old man would then rattle off some more "Husky," grinning and chuckling with delight.