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 Kean, Charles John
Sinfi gazed at it silently, then she said: 'This is the very place where Winnie wonst tried to save a hernshaw as wur wounded.
From Aylwin by Watts-Dunton, Theodore
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
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 Hubbard, Elbert
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 Carlyle, Thomas
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.
