Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
hone 1[hohn] ExamplesWord Origin noun
- a whetstone of fine, compact texture for sharpening razors and other cutting tools.
- a precision tool with a mechanically rotated abrasive tip, for enlarging holes to precise dimensions.
verb (used with object), honed, hon·ing.
- to sharpen on a hone: to hone a carving knife.
- to enlarge or finish (a hole) with a hone.
- to make more acute or effective; improve; perfect: to hone one’s skills.
Origin of hone 1 before 950; Middle English (noun); Old English hān stone, rock; cognate with Old Norse hein hone; akin to cone Related formshon·er, noun Examples from the Web for honer Historical Examples of honer
For nothing at all, your honer: that’s just it; but ould Kennyfeck put him up to it.
Charles James Lever
But his genius won him world praise, and later, honer in his own country.
John T. Goolrick
The Captain brought his weapon up to the salute, and said, “Major, the honer is moine; I’m deloighted to see ye.”
William Makepeace Thackeray
“It ain’t bein’ a crowned head, but it’s honer’ble,” pleaded the sick man, continuing the conversation.
Holman Day
I do, your honer, jist for my wife’s mother, ye see; but I live down towards Cash.
Anthony Trollope
British Dictionary definitions for honer hone 1 noun
- a fine whetstone, esp for sharpening razors
- a tool consisting of a number of fine abrasive slips held in a machine head, rotated and reciprocated to impart a smooth finish to cylinder bores, etc
verb
- (tr) to sharpen or polish with or as if with a hone
Word Origin for hone Old English hān stone; related to Old Norse hein usage Hone is sometimes wrongly used where home is meant: this device makes it easier to home in on (not hone in on) the target hone 2 verb (intr) dialect
- (often foll by for or after) to yearn or pine
- to moan or grieve
Word Origin for hone C17: from Old French hogner to growl, probably of Germanic origin; compare Old High German hōnen to revile Word Origin and History for honer n.
1826, agent noun from hone (v.); early 14c. as a surname.
hone n.
“whetstone,” Old English han “stone, rock, (boundary) stone,” in Middle English “whetstone” (early 14c.), from Proto-Germanic *haino (cf. Old Norse hein “hone”). The verb is 1788, from the noun. Related: Honed; honing.