hoe
UK[həʊ]US[hoʊ]
n
A garden tool with a thin, flat blade set at a right angle on a long handle, used for breaking up soil and removing weeds.
v
To break up (soil) or remove (weeds) with a hoe.
Etymology
The word 'hoe' has a straightforward lineage tracing back to Proto-Germanic. It originates from the Old English 'hāwa', which is a derivative of the verb 'hēawan', meaning 'to cut, hew, or strike'. This etymological connection directly reflects the tool's primary function: a blade used for cutting into and breaking apart soil. The term passed into Middle English as 'howe' and eventually simplified to its modern spelling, maintaining its core association with a striking or cutting agricultural implement throughout its history.
Analysis
This is a simplex word of Germanic origin. The Old English form was 'hāwa', related to the verb 'hēawan' meaning 'to hew or strike'.
Examples
He used a hoe to clear the weeds from between the rows of corn.
She spent the afternoon hoeing the vegetable patch.
A sharp hoe makes garden work much easier.