= WEED-HOOK.
1378. Acc. Roll Doune, Wandsworth, Surrey (Westm. Chapter Munim.). iij Wedynghokes.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 519/2. Wedynge hooke, runco.
1523–34. Fitzherb., Husb., § 21. And if it be drye wether, than muste ye haue a wedynge-hoke.
a. 1661. Holyday, Juvenal (1673), 270. When weeding-hooks and rakes The first Smiths made.
1763. Mills, Syst. Pract. Husb., III. 22. The common weeding-book will not go deep enough to take out the whole of the long slender tap root of this plant.
1787. Burns, Answ. Gudewife of Wauchope-House, ii. The rough burr-thistle, spreading wide Amang the bearded bear—I turn’d my weeding heuk [Ibid., Wks. 1800, III. 378 weeder-clips] aside, An’ spar’d the symbol dear!
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 135. The weeding-hook, which is a narrow strap of iron forked at the lower extremity, and a wooden handle at the other, is also used for raising weeds.
fig. 1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., I. v. He little dreamt then that the weeding-hook of reformation would after two ages pluck up his glorious poppy from insulting over the good corne.
