hough

Meaning

Noun

1. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of hock (“the hollow behind the knee”).
2. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of hock (“tarsal joint of a digitigrade quadruped”).

Verb

Alternative form of hock (“to hamstring”).

Verb

Archaic spelling of hoe.

Synonyms

ham

hamstring

hock

Pronounced as (IPA)

/hɒk/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: hough

Inherited from Old English: hōh

Cognate with Old English: hōhsinu

Inherited from Middle English: ho

In summary

From Middle English hough, houȝ, hoch, howghe, from Old English hōh (“heel, hough”), from Proto-Germanic *hanhaz (“heel”). Doublet of hoo.
The regular modern English development would be /hʌf/, /haʊ/; this has been replaced by /hɒk/, originating in the compound huxen (also *hoxen), from Old English hōhsinu.