Taw

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /tɔː/
• Homophones: tau (Greek letter)

From Middle English tawen, from Old English tawian ("to do, make"), from Proto-Germanic *tawjaną ("to make, prepare"), from Proto-Indo-European *dewǝ- ("to tie to, secure"). Cognate with Dutch touwen ("to rope, tether, curry"), Dutch tuien ("to fasten with ropes"), German Tau ("rope, hawser, cable"), Gothic 𐍄𐌰𐌿𐌾𐌰𐌽 (taujan, "to make, prepare"). Related to tool and tether.

Full definition of taw

Verb

1. (transitive, obsolete) To prepare or dress, as hemp, by beating; to tew; hence, to beat; to scourge.
2. (transitive) To dress and prepare, as the skins of sheep, lambs, goats, and kids, for gloves, and the like, by imbuing them with alum, salt, and other agents, for softening and bleaching them.
3. (transitive) Specifically, to turn (animals’ hide) into leather, usually by soaking it in a certain solution.

Related terms

• tool

Noun

1. (obsolete) Tawed leather.

Derived terms

• tawse

Origin unknown.

Noun

1. A favorite marble in the game of marbles.
2. A line or mark from which the players begin a game of marbles.
3. ring-taw
4. (square dancing) dance partnerWalk around your corner, see-saw around your taw.
5. A favorite person; beloved, partner, spouse.

Verb

1. to shoot a marble

Pronunciation

Alternative forms

• tav
• taf

Noun

1. The twenty-second and last letter of many Semitic alphabets/abjads (Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic and others).

Compare tew ("to tow"), and tow.

Verb

1. To push; to tug; to tow.

Anagrams

• ATW
• TWA
• wat, Wat
• WTA