Hind

Pronunciation

• IPA: /haɪnd/
• Rhymes: -aɪnd

From Middle English hinde, from Old English hindan ("at the rear, from behind"), from Proto-Germanic *hinda-, *handan- ("far, beyond"), from Proto-Indo-European *k(')enta ("down, below, with, far, along, against"), from *ḱen- ("to set oneself in motion, arise"). Cognate with Gothic 𐌷𐌹𐌽𐌳𐌰𐌽𐌰 (hindana, "from beyond"), Old Norse hindr ("obstacle"), Old Norse handan ("from that side, beyond"), Old High German hintana ("behind"), Old English hinder ("behind, back, in the farthest part, down"), Latin contra ("in return, against"). More at hinder, contrary.

Full definition of hind

Adjective

1. Located at the rear (most often said of animals' body parts).
• 1918, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Land That Time Forgot Chapter VWhen it had advanced from the wood, it hopped much after the fashion of a kangaroo, using its hind feet and tail to propel it, and when it stood erect, it sat upon its tail.

Derived terms

• hind leg

Old English hind, from Germanic. Cognate with Dutch hinde, German Hinde, Danish hind.

Noun

1. A female deer, especially a red deer at least two years old.
• 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, III.1.3:Nature binds all creatures to love their young ones; an hen to preserve her brood will run upon a lion, an hind will fight with a bull, a sow with a bear, a silly sheep with a fox.
2. A spotted food fish of the genus Epinephelus.

Synonyms

• (female deer) doe

Old English hī(ġ)na, genitive plural of hīġa ("servant, family member"), in the phrase hīna fæder ‘paterfamilias’. The -d is a later addition (compare sound).

Noun

1. (archaic) A servant, especially an agricultural labourer.
• 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, I.51:Attilius Regulus ... writ unto the common-wealth, that a hyne or plough-boy, whom he had left alone to oversee and husband his land (which in all was but seven acres of ground) was run away from his charge ....
• 1827, Maria Elizabeth Budden, Nina, An Icelandic Tale, page 41:The peaceful tenour of Nina's life was interrupted one morning by the mysterious looks and whisperings of her maids and hinds.
• 1931, Pearl S. Buck, The Good Earth:that my brother can sit at leisure in a seat and learn something and I must work like a hind, who am your son as well as he!