Today I Learned (TIL)

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TIL that when Hamlet talks about knowing “a hawk from a handsaw,” he wasn’t referring to the tool but a bird (handsaw was originally “heronshaw,” an old form of “heron.”) (www.word-detective.com)

submitted 2 years ago by bot@lemmit.online to c/todayilearned@lemmit.online

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The original was posted on /r/todayilearned by /u/ProcrusteanRex on 2024-01-26 22:06:22.

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[–] blackbrook@mander.xyz 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I don't find that theory all that convincing. A hawk is also a name for a hand tool, one which, like a handsaw is a piece of sheet metal attached to a wooden handle, but configured and used rather differently. So the phrase makes plenty of sense without having to introduce some theoretical typo.

[–] Tristaniopsis@aussie.zone 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I like your take on this. Here is another discussion which may or may not be helpful.

http://shakespearebyanothername.blogspot.com/2011/08/shake-speare-east-anglian-hawks.html?m=1