\Hew\, v. t. [imp. {Hewed}; p. p. {Hewed} or {Hewn}; p. pr.
& vb. n. {Hewing}.] [AS. he['a]wan; akin to D. houwen, OHG.
houwan, G. hauen, Icel. h["o]ggva, Sw. hugga, Dan. hugge,
Lith. kova battle, Russ. kovate to hammer, forge. Cf. {Hay}
cut grass, {Hoe}.]
1. To cut with an ax; to fell with a sharp instrument; --
   often with down, or off. --Shak.
2. To form or shape with a sharp instrument; to cut; hence,
   to form laboriously; -- often with out; as, to hew out a
   sepulcher.
         Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn. --Is. li. 1.
         Rather polishing old works than hewing out new.
                                               --Pope.
3. To cut in pieces; to chop; to hack.
         Hew them to pieces; hack their bones asunder.
                                               --Shak.

\Hew\, n.
Destruction by cutting down. [Obs.]
      Of whom he makes such havoc and such hew. --Spenser.

\Hew\, n.
1. Hue; color. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
2. Shape; form. [Obs.] --Spenser.