taws
Americannoun
plural
taws-
a whip or leather thong used to drive a spinning top.
-
a leather whip having its tip divided into smaller strips, used to punish schoolchildren.
Etymology
Origin of taws
1505–15; plural of obsolete taw < Old Norse taug rope; cognate with Old English tēag tie
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.
And you may helpe them much by enlarging their rootes with the taws of the tree, whence you take them.
From A New Orchard And Garden or, The best way for planting, grafting, and to make any ground good, for a rich Orchard: Particularly in the North and generally for the whole kingdome of England by Lawson, William, fl. 1618
He went back to "taws," and "lagged for goes," with the others.
From The Court of Boyville by Lowell, Orson
He is the most stupid of all my mother's children: he knows nothing of his book: when he should mind that, he is hiding or hoarding his taws and marbles, or laying up farthings.
From The Tatler, Volume 1, 1899 by Aitken, George A.
Ne'er use the taws when a gloom will do.
From The Proverbs of Scotland by Hislop, Alexander
Nor is it to be obviated, we fear, by any expression of extra solemnity thrown into the pedagogical face, or even by the taking of places or the taws.
From Leading Articles on Various Subjects by Davidson, John
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.
