Hone

hone

hone / hōn

noun 1. a fine whetstone used to sharpen cutting tools The knife should be sharpened from time to time on the stone or hone.  From "The Book of Sports" by William Martin. 1950 - 2. a tool used to enlarge holes to an exact dimension In the automotive industry, for example, cylinder hones are often utilised for creating an effective surface finish on engine cylinders.  From “A finer finish for flat surfaces”, ‘Production Engineering Solutions’, www.pesmedia.com/a-finer-finish-for-flat-surfaces/, November 8, 2018 verb 1. to sharpen or polish with a whetstone He worked much as a barber does who hones a razor, and with every evidence of similar practice; but his proficiency was the result of years of painstaking effort.  From ‘Jungle Tales of Tarzan’ by Edgar Rice Burroughs, 1875 - 1950 2. to perfect or to make more effective or intense Discover your strengths and then hone them and be who you are meant to be.  Liz Marshall, 1969 – 3. to yearn or long for There are a lot of lawyers and things in this town just honing for something dignified and stable. From "Gold" by Stewart White, 1873 - 1946 4. archaic, to moan or grieve; to grumble Och hone! And Och hone! It becomes me to moan – O Patrick! Dear Patrick! you're gone!  From “The Deserter’s Sweetheart”, The Paisley Magazine, 1828 etymology From the Anglo-Saxon word han (stone) as the noun meaning a "sharpening stone" and the verb meaning "sharpen;" from the French verb hogner as the verb meaning "grumble," "lament," "yearn." Thank you to Allen Ward for providing us with this etymology.