v. Obs. [OE. to-héawan, f. TO-2 + héawan to HEW; = MHG. zerhouwen, Ger. zerhauen.] trans. To hew to pieces.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, ii. 360. Þæt basilla sceolde ʓebuʓan … Oþþe hi man to-heowe mid heardum swurde on twa.
c. 1010. O. E. Chron., an. 1004 (Laud MS.). Þa seonde he ꝥ man sceolde þa scipu to heawan.
c. 1205. Lay., 178. Þar Turnus feol Mid mechen to-heawen.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 4407. Þar hii were … al to-hewe flesch & bon.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1751. The helmes they tohewen and toshrede.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VI. clxxxviii. 191. The sayd felon … at length was all to hewen and dyed forthwith.
