hone

hone¹

—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]

hone²

/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; < AF *honer; OF hogner to grumble, growl < Gmc; cf. OS honian to abuse, revile]

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