In 1 wéodhóc, 4 wyed hoc, 5 weod hook, wedhoc, -hoke, -huke, 4–6 wedehoke. [f. WEED sb.1 + HOOK sb.] A hook for cutting away weeds. Also in fig. contexts.

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c. 725.  Corpus Gloss., S 20. Sarculum, uueodhoc.

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1340.  Ayenb., 121. Þe yefþe of drede … is þe wyed hoc of þe gardine þet uordeþ al þet kueade gers.

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c. 1340.  Nominale (Skeat), 527. Sarcle … Wedehoke.

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1408.  Wyclif’s Bible, Isa vii. 25 (2nd text, MS. K.). A sarpe, id est, a weod hook.

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c. 1420.  ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 1361. Then Reson & Sadnesse toke wede hokes tweyn, and all wylde wantones out of the fylde gan wede.

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1557.  Tusser, 100 Points Husb., lxxix. In June get thy wedchoke, thy knife and thy gloue.

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1561.  T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., IV. xi. § 11 (1562), 72. Learne that thou hast nede of a wedehoke, not of a scepter, that thou mayste doo the worke of a Prophete.

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1610.  J. Robinson, Justif. Separat., 117. How dare the Prelates … take this forbidden weedhook into their hands, & vse it against any tare amongst them?

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1631.  Mabbe, Celestina, i. 21. To root it out streight with the weed-hooke of good workes.

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1710.  Hilman, Tusser Rediv., Mar. (1744), 32. These [thistles] may … be weeded off with a Weed-hook, or Stabbing-knife.

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1844.  H. Stephens, Bk. Farm, III. 941. The only implements used in weeding corn are the hand draw-hoe … and the weed-hook.

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1858.  Slight & Burn, Bk. Farm Implements, 328. The Weed-Hook … consists of an acute hook of iron, flattened,… with the two inner edges as far set asunder as to embrace the stem of succulent herbaceous plants, and made as sharp as easily to cut through them.

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