husks of the prodigal son

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Husk \Husk\ (h[u^]sk), n. [Prob. for hulsk, and from the same
   root as hull a husk. See {Hull} a husk.]
   1. The external covering or envelope of certain fruits or
      seeds; glume; hull; rind; in the United States, especially
      applied to the covering of the ears of maize.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The supporting frame of a run of millstones.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Husks of the prodigal son} (Bot.), the pods of the carob
      tree. See {Carob}.
      [1913 Webster]