Where does “husky” come from?

Husky comes from English Eskimo, formed with the Middle English suffix -y (from Middle French -ie, from Latin -ia), ultimately deriving from Proto-Indo-European -kos.

husky (English): Hoarse and rough-sounding; Burly, stout;...

Definitions

  1. Hoarse and rough-sounding; Burly, stout;...

Ancestry of “husky”, step by step

husky traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English husk

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhuskThe dry, leafy or stringy exterior of certain...
2Middle Englishhuskehusk
3Germanic*hosā
4Proto-GermanichusǭAn outer covering; hull; shell; husk; case;...
5Proto-Indo-European(s)kewH-to cover, bedeck; cover

via English Eskimo

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishEskimoA member of any of the Eskimo peoples; A dog of...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH-