taw

¹

[ taw ]

noun

1. a choice or fancy marble used as a shooter.
2. a game in which marbles are arranged in the center of a circle drawn or scratched on the ground, the object being to knock out as many as possible from the circle; ringer.
3. Also taw line. the line from which the players shoot.

verb (used without object)

1. to shoot a marble.

taw

²

[ taw ]

verb (used with object)

1. to prepare or dress (some raw material) for use or further manipulation.
2. to transform (the skin of an animal) into white leather by the application of minerals, emulsions, etc.
3. Archaic. to flog; thrash.

taw

³

[ tahv, tawv, tahf, tawf ]

noun

1. tav.

taw

¹

/ tɔː /

verb

1. to convert (skins) into white leather by treatment with mineral salts, such as alum and salt, rather than by normal tanning processes
2. archaic.
   to flog; beat

taw

²

/ tɔː /

noun

1. the line from which the players shoot in marbles
2. back to taws informal.
   back to the beginning
3. a large marble used for shooting
4. a game of marbles

Derived Forms

• ˈtawer, noun

Other Words From

• tawer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of taw¹

First recorded in 1700–10; origin uncertain

Origin of taw²

First recorded before 900; Middle English tauen, tawen, Old English tawian “to prepare or treat hide,” cognate with Dutch touwen “to tan, prepare leather,” Gothic taujan “to do, make”

Word History and Origins

Origin of taw¹

Old English tawian; compare Old High German zouwen to prepare, Gothic taujan to make

Origin of taw²

C18: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

At the Burmese Water Festival, a celebration held in the new capital, Nay Pyi Taw, last April, the girls had a breakthrough.

From The Daily Beast

A few tried marbles, but there was scarcely light for the purpose, and ring-taw was quickly abandoned.

From Project Gutenberg

After the first shot, every player must shoot from the place at which his taw rests.

From Project Gutenberg

Alley, Ally, al′li, n. a name given by boys to a choice taw or large marble.

From Project Gutenberg

His name is Sa-taw-ha, or Hog-Bite, and he is upwards of one hundred years of age.

From Project Gutenberg

And because the place where they made fires was found, these mountains are called Aw-up Chert-taw to this day.

From Project Gutenberg