hose

[hohz]

noun

plural

hose, hoses ,

plural

hosen .

1. a flexible tube for conveying a liquid, as water, to a desired point.

   a garden hose; a fire hose.

2. (used with a plural verb),  an article of clothing for the foot and lower part of the leg; stocking or sock.

3. (of men's attire in former times)

   1. an article of clothing for the leg, extending from about the knee to the ankle and worn with knee breeches.

   2. (used with a plural verb),  knee breeches.

   3. (used with a plural verb),  tights, as were worn with, and usually attached to, a doublet.

4. British Dialect.,  a sheath, or sheathing part, as that enclosing a kernel of grain.

5. Golf.,  hosel.

verb (used with object)

hosed, hosing 

1. to water, wash, spray, or drench by means of a hose (often followed bydown ).

   to hose the garden; to hose down the ship's deck.

2. Slang.

   1. to cheat, trick, or take advantage of.

   2. to defeat decisively.

   3. to reject.

   4. Chiefly Military.,  to attack or assault (an area) in order to gain control quickly (sometimes followed bydown ).

hose

¹

/ həʊz /

noun

1. stockings, socks, and tights collectively

2. history a man's garment covering the legs and reaching up to the waist; worn with a doublet

3. socks

hose

²

/ həʊz /

noun

1. a flexible pipe, for conveying a liquid or gas

verb

1. (sometimes foll by down) to wash, water, or sprinkle (a person or thing) with or as if with a hose

Other Word Forms

• hoseless adjective
• hoselike adjective
• unhosed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hose¹

before 1100; (noun) Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch hoos, Old Norse hosa, German Hose; (v.) Middle English: to provide with hose, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hose¹

Old English hosa; related to Old High German hosa, Dutch hoos, Old Norse hosa

Origin of hose²

C15: later use of _hose ²

Example Sentences

In fact, the longest recorded newspaper strike lasted over 10 years at the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader in Pennsylvania, and was marked by violence in which picketers were sprayed with fire hoses by company security.

Read more on MarketWatch

"Fire crews used breathing apparatus and hose reel jets to prevent the fire escalating," a fire spokesperson said.

Read more on BBC

In order to span the distance from the seawater holding tank, three fire trucks needed to be connected by a series of hoses to form a chain.

Read more on Literature

There was a hard plastic water tub with a hose to drain it.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He kicked and twisted, and the hoses snapped, and he was free, tumbling toward the earth.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• hosiery 
• sock 
• tights 
• tube 
• tubing