Hewn

Hewn is the past participle of hew, meaning to cut or shape something with blows from an axe, adze, chisel, or similar tool. As an adjective, hewn describes material that has been cut or shaped in this way. In common usage, stone that has been cut into regular shapes or faces by tool marks is called hewn stone, and timber that has been shaped by cutting tools is described as hewn timber. The term often carries a sense of roughness or rustic craftsmanship, as in rough-hewn timber or rough-hewn stone, though it can also refer to carefully dressed blocks hewn to precise dimensions.

Etymology traces to Old English heawan, from a Germanic root meaning to strike or cut. The concept is widespread in archaeology and architectural history, where hewn stone blocks are used in ashlar masonry to create even, stable surfaces for walls and monuments. In rock-cut architecture and tombs, surfaces may be described as hewn directly from natural rock, emphasizing the labor of removal and shaping rather than construction from rough field stone.

In modern contexts, hewing can denote traditional or artisanal techniques, as well as historical reconstruction or stylistic choices. The term remains common in descriptions of ancient or medieval buildings, quarries, and timber-framed structures, where the visible tool marks or squared forms signal deliberate shaping rather than natural formation.