hood

¹

[ hood ]

noun

1. a soft or flexible covering for the head and neck, either separate or attached to a cloak, coat, or the like.
2. something resembling or suggesting such a covering, especially in shape, as certain petals or sepals.
3. the hinged, movable part of an automobile body covering the engine.
4. British. the roof of a carriage.
5. a metal cover or canopy for a stove, ventilator, etc.
6. Falconry. a cover for the entire head of a hawk, used when the bird is not in pursuit of game.
7. an ornamental ruffle or fold on the back of the shoulders of an academic gown, jurist's robe, etc.
8. a crest or band of color on the head of certain birds and animals.

verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with a hood.
2. to cover with or as if with a hood.

hood

²

[ hood, hood ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a hoodlum.

'hood

³

or hood

[ hood ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a neighborhood, especially an urban neighborhood inhabited predominantly by African Americans of low socioeconomic status:

   It’s hard for these kids to break the cycle of poverty and get out of the 'hood.

Hood

⁴

[ hood ]

noun

1. John Bell, 1831–79, Confederate general in the U.S. Civil War.
2. Raymond Math·ew·son [math, -yoo-s, uh, n], 1881–1934, U.S. architect.
3. Robin. Robin Hood.
4. Thomas, 1799–1845, English poet and humorist.
5. Mount, a volcanic peak in N Oregon, in the Cascade Range. 11,253 feet (3,430 meters).

-hood

⁵

1. a native English suffix denoting state, condition, character, nature, etc., or a body of persons of a particular character or class, formerly used in the formation of nouns: childhood; likelihood; knighthood; priesthood .

hood

¹

/ hʊd /

noun

1. slang.
   short for hoodlum

Hood

²

/ hʊd /

noun

1. Robin
   HoodRobin See Robin Hood
2. HoodSamuel, 1st Viscount17241816MBritishMILITARY: admiral Samuel, 1st Viscount. 1724–1816, British admiral. He fought successfully against the French during the American Revolution and the French Revolutionary Wars
3. HoodThomas17991845MBritishWRITING: poetWRITING: humorous writer Thomas. 1799–1845, British poet and humorist: his work includes protest poetry, such as The Song of the Shirt (1843) and The Bridge of Sighs (1844)

'hood

³

/ hʊd /

noun

1. slang.
   short for neighbourhood

hood

⁴

/ hʊd /

noun

1. a loose head covering either attached to a cloak or coat or made as a separate garment
2. something resembling this in shape or use
3. the US and Canadian name for bonnet
4. the folding roof of a convertible car
5. a hoodlike garment worn over an academic gown, indicating its wearer's degree and university
6. falconry a close-fitting cover, placed over the head and eyes of a falcon to keep it quiet when not hunting
7. biology a structure or marking, such as the fold of skin on the head of a cobra, that covers or appears to cover the head or some similar part

verb

1. tr to cover or provide with or as if with a hood

-hood

⁵

suffix forming nouns

1. indicating state or condition of being

   manhood

   adulthood

2. indicating a body of persons

   priesthood

   knighthood

Derived Forms

• ˈhoodless, adjective
• ˈhoodˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• hoodless adjective
• hoodlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hood¹

First recorded before 900, in 1925–30 hood ¹fordef 3 (an Americanism); Middle English hode, Old English hōd; cognate with Old Frisian hōde, Dutch hoed, German Hut hat

Origin of hood²

First recorded in 1925–30; by shortening

Origin of hood³

First recorded in 1965–70; African American Vernacular English; by shortening

Origin of hood⁴

Middle English -hode, -hod, Old English -hād (cognate with German -heit ), special use of hād condition, state, order, quality, rank

Word History and Origins

Origin of hood¹

Old English hōd; related to Old High German huot hat, Middle Dutch hoet, Latin cassis helmet; see hat

Origin of hood²

Old English -hād

Example Sentences

The incidents ranged from officers using batons, spray gas, leg restraints, spit hoods, and empty-handed force.

From BBC

It uses a cavernous hood to trap crustaceans to eat — a feeding strategy also used by anemones and some jellies.

From Los Angeles Times

The court previously heard that Sara was hooded, burned and beaten during more than two years of abuse before she was found dead at her family home in Woking, Surrey, last year.

From BBC

This may not be the first time the unidentified hooded man left a suspicious bag in the Torrance area.

From Los Angeles Times

A man wearing a red hooded top was seen handcuffed and surrounded by police.

From BBC

Related Words

• gangster
• goon
• hooligan
• punk
• tough
• tough guy