shuck (shuck)

noun

• 1an outer covering such as a husk or pod, especially the husk of an ear of maize.
• the shell of an oyster or clam.
• the integument of certain insect pupae or larvae.

• 2 informal a person or thing regarded as worthless or contemptible: he said the idea was a shuck

exclamation

• used to express surprise, regret, irritation, or, in response to praise, self-deprecation: ‘Thank you for getting it.’ ‘Oh, shucks, it was nothing.’See also aw-shucks.

verb

• 1remove the shucks from maize or shellfish: shuck and drain the oysters
• informal take off (a garment): she shucked off her nightdress and started dressing
• informal abandon; get rid of: the regime’s ability to shuck off its totalitarian characteristics

• 2 informal cause (someone) to believe something that is not true; fool or tease: they have enough psychology to know whether you’re shucking them or whether you’re being honest [no object]: I don’t need you shucking and jiving about my girl’s name