Obs. Also 8 tewtow, 9 dial. tewter. [Goes with next.
If the sb. was the earlier, its derivation would prob. be from TEW v.1, + TAW sb.1, or TOW sb. = ‘that which tews taw or tow’: but if the vb. was the earlier, TAW would naturally be the vb., and tew either TEW sb.1 or some other word. The origin of the second element was app. lost before the word became tewter. Johnson knew only the vb., which he considered a reduplicated form of tew.]
An implement for breaking hemp or flax.
1649. Blithe, Eng. Improv. Impr. (1653), 262–3. As to the working of it, you must provide your Brakes and Tewtawes both,… the brake which bruises and toughens the harl, and the Tewtaw that cuts and divides out the coare.
1727. Bailey, vol. II., A Tew-tow, a Tool to break or beat Flax with.
1847–78. Halliwell, Tewter, an instrument for breaking flax, as a brake for hemp. Chesh.
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropsh Word-bk., Tewter.
