hoe

views updated May 29 2018

hoe1 / / • n. a long-handled gardening tool with a thin metal blade, used mainly for weeding and breaking up soil.• v. (hoes, hoed, hoe·ing) [tr.] use a hoe to dig (earth) or thin out or dig up (plants). ∎  [intr.] use a hoe.DERIVATIVES: ho·er n.hoe2 • n. variant spelling of ho1 .

hoe

views updated May 29 2018

hoe sb. XIV. ME. howe — (O)F. houe — Frankish *hauwa = OHG. houwa (G. haue), rel. to houwan HEW.
Hence vb. XV.