Ear covering

HUSK

Think of the dry outer layer you might peel off corn before cooking or eating it.

"Ear covering" seems to hint at something that wraps around an ear, like a corn husk. The word "husk" literally refers to the dry outer layer of corn or seeds, which can loosely cover an ear of corn. Here, the clue plays on the double meaning—both the literal ear (of corn) and the idea of covering an ear, making "husk" a clever fit. It’s a simple pun where the answer sounds like it belongs but isn’t the obvious choice.