I. ˈhō noun
Etymology: Middle English howe, from Anglo-French houe, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German houwa mattock, houwan to hew — more at hew
Date: 14th century
1. : any of various implements for tilling, mixing, or raking ; especially : an implement with a thin flat blade on a long handle used especially for cultivating, weeding, or loosening the earth around plants
2. : backhoe
II. verb
( hoed ; hoe·ing )
Date: 15th century
intransitive verb
: to use or work with a hoe
transitive verb
1. : to weed, cultivate, or thin (a crop) with a hoe
2. : to remove (weeds) by hoeing
3. : to dress or cultivate (land) by hoeing
• ho·er ˈhō(-ə)r noun