hough

English

Etymology 1

From Old English hōh.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /hɒk/, /hɒx/

Noun

hough (plural houghs)

1. the hollow behind the knee

   • 1922: In the bright light, lightened and cooled in limb, he eyed carefully his black trousers, the ends, the knees, the houghs of the knees. — James Joyce, Ulysses

Verb

hough (third-person singular simple present houghs, present participle houghing, simple past and past participle houghed)

1. To hamstring

Etymology 2

From Middle English howe, from Anglo-Norman houe, from Old Low Franconian *houwa (cf. Middle Dutch houwe), from *houwan 'to hew'. More at hew.

Noun

hough (plural houghs)

1. Archaic spelling of hoe.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Bishop Stillingfleet to this entry?)

Verb

hough (third-person singular simple present houghs, present participle houghing, simple past and past participle houghed)

1. Archaic spelling of hoe.
   • 1748, James Thomson, The Castle of Indolence, K:LV

     "Better the toiling Swain, oh happier far!

     Perhaps the happieſt of the Sons of Men!

     Who vigorous plies the Plough, the Team, or Car;

     Who houghs the Field, or ditches in the Glen,

     Delves in his Garden, or ſecures his Pen."