froe

noun

variants or less commonly frow
: a cleaving tool for splitting cask staves and shingles from the block

Examples of froe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This hatchet/machete lovechild is a beast for processing wood at camp (Buck's Froe is confusingly not shaped like a traditional froe, which is L-shaped, but they're used for the same purpose). Joe Jackson, Outside Online, 17 Oct. 2019 Children will enjoy cutting a log with a two-man saw, cleaving shingles with a mallet and froe, competing in a seed spitting contest, making dolls and other activities. Daily News Staff, The Mercury News, 5 May 2017 Named for a New York industrial arts teacher who collected early American craft and industry tools, the trove includes everything from bark spuds and froes to twibills and wool wheel fingers. Suzanne Carmick, New York Times, 6 June 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'froe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

perhaps alteration of obsolete froward turned away, from Middle English; from the position of the handle

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of froe was in 1574

Dictionary Entries Near froe

Cite this Entry

“Froe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/froe. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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