taw

Etymology 1

From Middle English tawen, from Old English tawian (“to do, make”), from Proto-West Germanic *tawōn, a variant of Proto-West Germanic *tauwjan, from Proto-Germanic *tawjaną (“to make, prepare”), from Proto-Indo-European *dewh₂- (“to tie to, secure”). Cognate with Dutch touwen (“to rope, tether, curry”), Dutch tuien (“to fasten with ropes”), German Tau (“rope, hawser, cable”), Gothic 𐍄𐌰𐌿𐌾𐌰𐌽 (taujan, “to make, prepare”). Related to tool and tether.

verb

1. (transitive, obsolete) To prepare or dress, as hemp, by beating; to tew.
2. (transitive, by extension) To beat; to scourge.
3. (transitive) To dress and prepare, as the skins of sheep, lambs, goats, and kids, for gloves, etc., by imbuing them with alum, salt, and other agents, for softening and bleaching them.
   1. (transitive) To turn (animals' hide) into leather, usually by soaking it in a certain solution.

noun

1. (obsolete) Tawed leather.

Etymology 2

Unknown. Attested in English from the 18th century. Compare Old English tāw (“instrument”). Also compare Irish togh (“choose, elect”).

noun

1. A favorite marble in the game of marbles.
2. A line or mark from which the players begin a game of marbles.
3. (square dancing) A dance partner.
   Walk around your corner; see-saw around your taw.
4. A favorite person; beloved, partner, spouse.

verb

1. To shoot a marble.

Etymology 3

Compare Phoenician 𐤕 (tāw), Hebrew ת (tav), Arabic تاء (tāʾ).

noun

1. The 22nd and last letter of many Semitic alphabets/abjads, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew, Syriac, and Arabic.

Etymology 4

Compare tew (“to tow”), and tow.

verb

1. To push; to tug; to tow.
   Swans vpon the Streame to tawe me 1630, Michael Drayton, The Muses' Elizium