▪ I. ˈhorse-hoe, n.
[f. horse n. + hoe n.]
A frame mounted on wheels and furnished with ranges of shares at such intervals as to work in the spaces between drills or rows of plants, in which each acts like a hoe in stirring up the soil, rooting up weeds, etc.
| 1731 Tull Horse-hoeing Husb. xviii (1733) 121 Proper for the regular operation of the Horse-Hoe. 1789 Ann. Reg. 64 Of the utility of the horse-hoe I am inclined to entertain a very high opinion. 1826 Loudon Encycl. Agric. (1831) 405 Of horse hoes there is a great variety, almost every implement-maker having his favourite form. |
▪ II. ˈhorse-hoe, v.
[f. horse n. + hoe v.1]
trans. or absol. To hoe (or stir up the earth as in hoeing) with an implement drawn by a horse; to work with a horse-hoe. Hence horse-hoed ppl. a., horse-hoeing vbl. n.; also horse-hoer.
| 1731 J. Tull (title) Specimen of a Work on Horse-Houghing Husbandry. 1732 W. Ellis Pract. Farmer Gloss. (E.D.S.), Horse-houghing is so called by reason it saves man's houghing, not that a hough is used by horses, but their drawing a plough in a particular manner supplies the use of a hough. 1744 W. Ellis Mod. Husb. i. 145 It will be a difficult Point for the Horse-hougher to keep his Horse and Instrument..exact. 1780 A. Young Tour Irel. I. 14 Horse hoed, hand hoed and weeded. 1808 J. Walker Hist. Hebrides I. 245 All horse-hoed grain should be avoided for seed-corn. 1846 J. Baxter Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4) II. 24 As soon as the plants get about three inches high, the intervals should be horse-hoed. 1935 J. Joyce Let. 19 Feb. (1966) III. 345 If they put on Floradora with George Robey in the name part the horsehoers would not notice. |