Hug

v. t. [imp. & p. p. HUGGED; p. pr. & vb. n. HUGGING.] [O. Eng. hoge, hugge; A-S. hogian, to meditate, think, Goth. hugjan, to think, hugs, mind, Icel. hugr, to think, care, hugga, to console, Sw. hugna, to exhilarate, hāgna, to hedge, wall in, D. hugen, to flatter, Dan. hygge, to guard, A-S. hēgan, hēgian, to wall in, guard, hege, haga, hedge, Ger. heyen, hägen, O. Dan. häge, to fence, hug, cherish. See HEDGE.]

1Sense 1. To press closely within the arms; to embrace closely; to clasp to the bosom; to grasp or gripe. “And hugged me in his arms.” Shak.

2Sense 2. To embrace closely; to hold fast; to treat with fondness.

We hug deformities if they bear our names. Glanville.

3Sense 3. (Naut.) To keep close to; as, to hug the land; to hug the wind. Totten.

To hug one's self, to congratulate one's self; to chuckle.

To crowd together; to cuddle; as, to hug with swine. Shak.

n. A close embrace; a clasp or gripe.