Dictionary.com

taw

1
[ taw ]
/ tɔ /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: taws on Thesaurus.com
noun
a choice or fancy marble used as a shooter.
a game in which marbles are arranged in the center of a circle drawn or scratched on the ground, the object being to knock out as many as possible from the circle; ringer.
Also taw line . the line from which the players shoot.
verb (used without object)
to shoot a marble.
QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!
Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
who
whom
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of taw

1
First recorded in 1700–10; origin uncertain

Words nearby taw

taverna, taverner, tavern nuts, tavern table, TAVR, taw, tawa, tawai, tawdry, tawheowheo, tawhiri

Other definitions for taw (2 of 3)

taw2
[ taw ]
/ tɔ /
verb (used with object)
to prepare or dress (some raw material) for use or further manipulation.
to transform (the skin of an animal) into white leather by the application of minerals, emulsions, etc.
Archaic. to flog; thrash.

Origin of taw

2
First recorded before 900; Middle English tauen, tawen, Old English tawian “to prepare or treat hide,” cognate with Dutch touwen “to tan, prepare leather,” Gothic taujan “to do, make”

OTHER WORDS FROM taw

tawer, noun

Other definitions for taw (3 of 3)

taw3
[ tahv, tawv, tahf, tawf ]
/ tɑv, tɔv, tɑf, tɔf /
noun
tav.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to taw

skin, cat-o'-nine-tails, goatskin, parchment, sheepskin, strap, strop, tan, thong, thrash, tooling, whip, oxhide

How to use taw in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for taw (1 of 2)

taw1
/ (tɔː) /
noun
the line from which the players shoot in marbles
back to taws Australian informal back to the beginning
a large marble used for shooting
a game of marbles

Word Origin for taw

C18: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for taw (2 of 2)

taw2
/ (tɔː) /
verb (tr)
to convert (skins) into white leather by treatment with mineral salts, such as alum and salt, rather than by normal tanning processes
archaic, or dialect to flog; beat

Derived forms of taw

tawer, noun

Word Origin for taw

Old English tawian; compare Old High German zouwen to prepare, Gothic taujan to make
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
FEEDBACK