hernshaw
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of hernshaw
1555–65; variant of dial. heronsew, Middle English < Middle French heronceau, heroncel, diminutive of heron heron
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
To know a hawk from a hernshaw is an ancient proverb, sometimes corrupted into handsaw.
From Hamlet by Charles John Kean
See here, old chap! you'll be older before you are younger, and some day you will know a hawk from a handsaw, or hernshaw, according to which reading of 'Hamlet' you prefer.
From The Merryweathers by Julia Ward Richards
The clever Elliot, who knew a hawk from a hernshaw, never floundered into that platitude.
From History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 21 by Thomas Carlyle
He could see right through a brick wall, and never mistook a hawk for a hernshaw.
From Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great - Volume 01 Little Journeys to the Homes of Good Men and Great by Elbert Hubbard
From hernshaw, still further corrupted, arose the proverbial expression introduced by Shakspeare into Hamlet,— "I am but mad north-north-west, when the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a hand-saw."
From Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 91, July 26, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
