hone, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

hone v.

[OF hogner, hoigner, to grumble, mutter or murmur, to whine like a child, or dog]

(US)

1. to pine for, to yearn after.

1905		H. Green Actors’ Boarding House (1906) 113: Whenever Aunt Sarah honed for a new red dress or a pound of snuff.
1912		Ade Knocking the Neighbors 50: For years I have hankered and honed to be Dead Game.
1937		E.R. Burroughs ‘Resurrection of Jimber-Jaw’ in Goodstone Pulps (1970) 8/2: He was just honing to crawl into one of those prop caves.
1940		O. Strange Sudden Takes the Trail 210: I ain’t honin’ to see that fella no more.
1953		Randolph & Wilson Down in the Holler 253: I just been a-honin’ for a good mess of fried catfish.

2. to look for, to search out.

1940, 1944

hone out (v.)

(N.Z. prison) to arrest .

2001

D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 89/2: hone out v. to arrest.