What does thew mean?
Thew is a rare English noun meaning a muscle and, by extension, muscular strength or brawn. It appears especially in literary and archaic descriptions of physical power, often where modern English would say strength, might, or vigor. Because the word is now uncommon, it can sound deliberately vivid or elevated: a sentence such as “The wrestler's thew was legendary” conveys a slightly old-fashioned emphasis on physical force. The plural thews survives in the familiar phrase “thews and sinews,” where it refers generally to strength and vitality. Thew should not be confused with the much more common though, despite the superficial similarity in spelling. Its history explains its unusual appearance: it descends from an Old English word for the thigh, the same source as thigh, but the two words later developed different pronunciations. Thew therefore remains chiefly of interest to readers of older literature and to those who enjoy words preserved in modern English at the edges of standard usage.
nounA muscle; muscular strength or brawn. The word is now chiefly found in archaic and literary English.
- A muscle.
- Muscular strength or brawn.
"The wrestler's thew was legendary."
"The wrestler's thew was legendary."
"Old age had drained him of thew."
The plural is more common than the singular and often denotes muscular strength collectively.
"His thews had failed him long before his mind did."
The word behind thigh: both descend from the same Old English source, but only thew retained the simple long “oo” sound.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does thew come from?
The word entered Middle English as thewe, continuing Old English þēo, an ancestor of the modern word thigh and a source meaning “thigh” or “muscle.” Its meaning developed toward “muscular strength” or “brawn.” Although thew and thigh descend from the same Old English word, their pronunciations later diverged.
How thew is actually used
Thew is uncommon in ordinary modern English and has an archaic or literary tone. Its plural form, thews, is more familiar than the singular, particularly in the expression “thews and sinews.”
Easily confused with thew
Though is a conjunction meaning “despite the fact that,” whereas thew is a rare noun meaning a muscle or muscular strength.