hose

[ hohz ]

noun

, plural hose hos·es (Archaic) hos·en [hoh, -z, uh, n].

1. a flexible tube for conveying a liquid, as water, to a desired point:

   a garden hose; a fire hose.

2. (used with a plural verb) an article of clothing for the foot and lower part of the leg; stocking or sock.
3. (of men's attire in former times)
   1. an article of clothing for the leg, extending from about the knee to the ankle and worn with knee breeches.
   2. (used with a plural verb) knee breeches.
   3. (used with a plural verb) tights, as were worn with, and usually attached to, a doublet.
4. British Dialect. a sheath, or sheathing part, as that enclosing a kernel of grain.
5. Golf. hosel.

verb (used with object)

, hosed, hos·ing.

1. to water, wash, spray, or drench by means of a hose (often followed by down ):

   to hose the garden; to hose down the ship's deck.

2. Slang.
   1. to cheat, trick, or take advantage of.
   2. to defeat decisively.
   3. to reject.
   4. Chiefly Military. to attack or assault (an area) in order to gain control quickly (sometimes followed by down ).

hose

¹

/ həʊz /

noun

1. stockings, socks, and tights collectively
2. history a man's garment covering the legs and reaching up to the waist; worn with a doublet
3. half-hose
   socks

hose

²

/ həʊz /

noun

1. a flexible pipe, for conveying a liquid or gas

verb

1. sometimes foll by down to wash, water, or sprinkle (a person or thing) with or as if with a hose

Other Words From

• hoseless adjective
• hoselike adjective
• un·hosed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hose¹

before 1100; (noun) Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch hoos, Old Norse hosa, German Hose; (v.) Middle English: to provide with hose, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hose¹

Old English hosa; related to Old High German hosa, Dutch hoos, Old Norse hosa

Origin of hose²

C15: later use of hose ²

Example Sentences

They used a water hose from a nearby home to spray down the brush.

From Los Angeles Times

Firefighters had arrived; but without fire hydrants around his property, they were left with his garden hose.

From Los Angeles Times

I had traveled to Montana to observe and participate in the American democratic process, the way most Americans engage with American democracy—not in union halls or public forums, but on the receiving end of a one-way fire hose of paid propaganda and professional manipulation, rendered in 30-second bursts of flickering blue light, largely in isolation, via television.

From Slate

Standing in front of a green cinder block garage papered in Trump-Pence signs, a bright yellow garden hose within arm’s reach, the once-revered mayor of New York announced plans to file lawsuits in multiple states and painted Philadelphia, a Democratic stronghold in a pivotal swing state, as a den of corruption where the election was being stolen from Trump in broad daylight.

From Los Angeles Times

Truth and facts vary wildly depending on where you get your news, which is made all the more complicated by the fire hose of information on social media—some of it fake, much of it sensationalized.

From Slate

Related Words

• hosiery
• sock
• tights
• tube
• tubing