hone 1
— honer , n.
/hohn/ , n. , v. , honed, honing .
n.
1. a whetstone of fine, compact texture for sharpening razors and other cutting tools.
2. a precision tool with a mechanically rotated abrasive tip, for enlarging holes to precise dimensions.
v.t.
3. to sharpen on a hone: to hone a carving knife.
4. to enlarge or finish (a hole) with a hone.
5. to make more acute or effective; improve; perfect: to hone one's skills.
[ bef. 950; ME (n.); OE han stone, rock; c. ON hein hone; akin to CONE ]
hone 2
/hohn/ , v.i. , honed, honing .
1. South Midland and Southern U.S. to yearn; long: to hone for the farm life; to hone after peach pie.
2. Archaic. to moan and groan.
[ 1590-1600; honer; OF hogner to grumble, growl honian to abuse, revile ]