Hone
/hoʊn/noun
To sharpen or refine something, especially a skill, idea, or tool.
Did you know?‘Hone’ began as a real stone used to sharpen blades, and only later became a metaphor for refining the mind, proving words can move from physical edge to mental power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*hanhaz
“A stone for sharpening or whetting”
Old English
OE
hān
“A hone-stone, whetstone”
Middle English
ME
hone
“A whetstone used for sharpening blades”
18th Century
English
hone
“To sharpen on a hone-stone”
20th Century
English
hone
“To refine or perfect by practice or attention”
Explore more surprising origins