To remove the outer covering or husk from a grain, seed, or similar plant material.
From de- (remove) + husk (the outer shell or covering). The word has been used since at least the 17th century in agricultural contexts, referring to the processing of grain.
When you dehusk corn, you're removing those papery layers, but corn husks have traditionally been used to make everything from tamales to baskets, so farmers didn't always throw them away!
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