hone

Etymology 1

From Middle English hon (“whetstone”), from Old English hān, from Proto-Germanic *hainō (compare Dutch heen, Norwegian hein), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱeh₃i- (“to sharpen”) (compare Ancient Greek κῶνος (kônos, “cone”), Persian سان (sân, “whetstone”)).

noun

1. A sharpening stone composed of extra-fine grit used for removing the burr or curl from the blade of a razor or some other edge tool.
2. A machine tool used in the manufacture of precision bores.

verb

1. To sharpen with a hone; to whet.
2. To use a hone to produce a precision bore.
3. To refine or master (a skill).
   He also honed the procedure known as cut and fill - whereby the spoil from railway cuttings was used to build up embankments. August 23 2023, David E Norris, “Joseph Locke: a railway injustice...”, in RAIL, number 990, page 56
4. To make more acute, intense, or effective.

Etymology 2

Cognate with Icelandic hnúður. Distantly related to knot.

noun

1. A kind of swelling in the cheek.

Etymology 3

French hogner (“to grumble”), which could be a cross of honnir (“to disgrace, shame”) and grogner (“to grunt”).

verb

1. (UK, US, Southern US, dialect) To grumble.
   Such tunges ſhuld be torne out by the harde rootes, c. 1515–1516, published 1568, John Skelton, Againſt venemous tongues enpoyſoned with ſclaunder and falſe detractions &c.
2. (UK, US, Southern US, dialect) To pine, lament, or long.

Etymology 4

intj

1. Synonym of alas Used to express sorrow, or grief
   Oh, hone! oh, hone! miserable wretch that I am! Do ye mak confession for me, Sir, and I'll say 't after you, as weel as I dow. Oh, hone! oh, hone! 1836, Joanna Baillie, Witchcraft, Act 4, page 141