forhow

English

Alternative forms

• forhoo, forhooie, forhooy, forhui, furhow

Etymology

From Middle English forhowien, from Old English forhogian (“to neglect, disregard, despise”), equivalent to for- +‎ how. Cognate with Old Saxon farhuggjan, Old High German farhuggan.

Verb

forhow (third-person singular simple present forhows, present participle forhowing, simple past and past participle forhowed)

1. (transitive, obsolete) To despise; scorn.
2. (transitive, UK dialectal, Scotland) To forsake; quit; abandon; desert.
   • 1881, Gregor, Elk-Lore:

     It was believed that handling any bird's eggs in the nest made the bird forhooie them, [...]

3. (transitive, UK dialectal, Scotland) To cast off; scorn.
   • 1768, Ross, Hclenort:

     Mind what this lass has undergane for you, Since ye did her so treach'rously forhow, [...]