Hew (?), v. t. [imp. Hewed (?); p. p. Hewed or Hewn (); p. pr. & vb. n. Hewing.] [AS. he�xa0;wan; akin to D. houwen, OHG. houwan, G. hauen, Icel. hoggva, Sw. hugga, Dan. hugge, Lith. kova battle, Russ. kovate to hammer, forge. Cf. Hay cut grass, Hoe.]
1.
To cut with an ax; to fell with a sharp instrument; -- often with down, or off.
Shak.
2.
To form or shape with a sharp instrument; to cut; hence, to form laboriously; -- often with out; as, to hew out a sepulcher.
Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn.
Is. li. 1.
Rather polishing old works than hewing out new.
Pope.
3.
To cut in pieces; to chop; to hack.
Hew them to pieces; hack their bones asunder.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.
Hew, n.
Destruction by cutting down.
[Obs.]
Of whom he makes such havoc and such hew.
Spenser.
© Webster 1913.
Hew, n.
1.
Hue; color.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
2.
Shape; form.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
© Webster 1913.