hose

[ hohz ]

/ hoʊz /

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See synonyms for: hose / hosed / hosing on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural hose for 2, 3; hos·es for 1, 4, 5; (Archaic) hos·en

[hoh-zuhn]. /ˈhoʊ zən/.

a flexible tube for conveying a liquid, as water, to a desired point: a garden hose; a fire hose.

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

(of men's attire in former times)

an article of clothing for the leg, extending from about the knee to the ankle and worn with knee breeches.
(used with a plural verb) knee breeches.
(used with a plural verb) tights, as were worn with, and usually attached to, a doublet.

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

Golf. hosel.

verb (used with object), hosed, hos·ing.

to water, wash, spray, or drench by means of a hose (often followed by down): to hose the garden; to hose down the ship's deck.

Slang.

to cheat, trick, or take advantage of.
to defeat decisively.
to reject.
Chiefly Military. to attack or assault (an area) in order to gain control quickly (sometimes followed by down).

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of hose

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

OTHER WORDS FROM hose

hoseless, adjectivehoselike, adjectiveun·hosed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hose in a sentence

Hosen, shirts, cyclas, and under-jupons are in the brown basket on the left side of the mule.
The White Company|Arthur Conan Doyle
And when he had unarmed himself he took off all his clothes saving only his hosen and his doublet.
The Story of the Champions of the Round Table|Howard Pyle
It could not by chance be the fault of thy own baby arms more fit to draw on thy hosen than to dress a warbow.
Sir Nigel|Arthur Conan Doyle
Dolly's best gowns came out of lavender, and Morgan set the tailor busy upon new doublet and hosen.
Sea-Dogs All!|Tom Bevan

When did ye begin to dander in pink hosen, Mistress Elliott?
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. XIX (of 25)|Robert Louis Stevenson

British Dictionary definitions for hose (1 of 2)

hose¹

/ (həʊz) /

noun

a flexible pipe, for conveying a liquid or gas

verb

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

Word Origin for hose

C15: later use of hose ²

British Dictionary definitions for hose (2 of 2)

hose²

/ (həʊz) /

noun plural hose or hosen

stockings, socks, and tights collectively

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

half-hose socks

Word Origin for hose

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

hose

Origin of hose

OTHER WORDS FROM hose

Words related to hose

How to use hose in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hose (1 of 2)

Word Origin for hose

British Dictionary definitions for hose (2 of 2)

Word Origin for hose