tawse
Britishnoun
verb
Etymology
Origin of tawse
C16: probably plural of obsolete taw strip of leather; see taw ²
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.
Photograph: George Eksts We were never given the tawse or leather strap, but we were always getting the dap.
From The Guardian ● Oct. 7, 2012
The dominie went straight to the fire, and with the poker discovered the almost shapeless cinders of his pet tawse!
From Harry Milvaine The Wanderings of a Wayward Boy by Stables, Gordon
Captain Campbell," said he, "it is not the tawse that ever put wisdom into a head like yon.
From Gilian The Dreamer His Fancy, His Love and Adventure by Munro, Neil
There was no answer, and he fell to again; but Paul turned and caught his arm, and after an ineffectual struggle, the old man dropped the tawse and walked into the kitchen.
From Despair's Last Journey by Murray, David Christie
But before the end of the month, at the mere mention of Tommy's name, Mr. Cathro turned red in the face, and the fingers of his laying-on hand would clutch an imaginary pair of tawse.
From Sentimental Tommy The Story of His Boyhood by Barrie, J. M. (James Matthew)
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.
