hough

From Old English hōh.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /hɒk/
• Rhymes: -ɒk
• Homophone: hock

hough (plural houghs)

1. The hollow behind the knee.
   • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses:

     In the bright light, lightened and cooled in limb, he eyed carefully his black trousers, the ends, the knees, the houghs of the knees.

hough (third-person singular simple present houghs, present participle houghing, simple past and past participle houghed)

1. To hamstring.

• hamstring, hock, hox

• See Thesaurus:disable

• hougher

See hoe (“agricultural tool”).

As hoe.

hough (plural houghs)

1. Obsolete spelling of hoe

hough (third-person singular simple present houghs, present participle houghing, simple past and past participle houghed)

1. Archaic spelling of hoe.
   • 1748, James Thomson, The Castle of Indolence, K:LV

     Better the toiling Swain, oh happier far!

     Perhaps the happieſt of the Sons of Men!

     Who vigorous plies the Plough, the Team, or Car;

     Who houghs the Field, or ditches in the Glen,

     Delves in his Garden, or ſecures his Pen.