hough

See also: Hough

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English hogh, houȝ, hoch, howghe, from Old English hōh (“heel, hough”), from Proto-Germanic *hanhaz (“heel”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /hɒk/
• Rhymes: -ɒk
• Homophone: hock

Noun

hough (plural houghs)

1. The hollow behind the knee.
   • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses:

     In the bright light, lightened and cooled in limb, he eyed carefully his black trousers, the ends, the knees, the houghs of the knees.

Verb

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

1. To hamstring.

Synonyms

• hamstring, hock, hox

Hypernyms

• See Thesaurus:disable

Derived terms

• hougher

Etymology 2

See hoe (“agricultural tool”).

Pronunciation

As hoe.

Noun

hough (plural houghs)

1. Obsolete spelling of hoe.

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.

Etymology 3

From Middle English ho, howe, hogh, from Old English hōh (“a promontory”).

Noun

hough (plural houghs)

1. Alternative form of hoe