Complete List of SOWPODS 4-letter words which are formed from a three-letter word plus a front or back hook where the three-letter word is formed of two overlapping two-letter words.
Anyone is free to make whatever use they like of this list.
David Sutton, August 2003.
abas a-bas (Pl.) ABA, a tightly-woven camel-hair fabric or tunic
aba-s
abed a-bed
abet a-bet
abid a-bid (Pt.) ABIDE.
abos a-bos (Pl.) ABO, aborigine.
abo-s
abye a-bye To pay the penalty for. Also ABY.
aby-e
ache a-che
ach-e
adaw a-daw (Spens.) to daunt, subdue.
adit a-dit A nearly horizontal shaft to the surface in a mine.
ados a-dos
ado-s
afar a-far (At) a great distance.
agin a-gin (Dial.) against. Also AGEN.
agio a-gio A premium paid on foreign currency exchange.
agog ago-g
agon a-gon The dramatic conflict between the chief characters in a play
ago-n
ahem a-hem
ahoy a-hoy
aide a-ide
aid-e
aine ain-e (Fr.) elder, senior.
aitu ait-u In Polynesia, a demigod.
alae ala-e (PL.) ALA, an outgrowth on a fruit.
alan ala-n A large hunting dog. Also ALANT, ALAND.
alar a-lar Of or pertaining to the wing or shoulder.
ala-r
alas a-las (Pl.) ALA, an outgrowth on a fruit.
ala-s
alay a-lay (Obs.) to allay.
ala-y
alit a-lit (Pt.) to alight.
alod a-lod An estate held in absolute ownership.
alow a-low (Arch.) to a lower position, esp. in a ship.
amah ama-h An Oriental nurse. Also AMA.
amas a-mas (Pl.) AMA, an Oriental nurse.
ama-s
amen a-men (Verb) to say amen.
amia ami-a A freshwater fish.
amid a-mid A compound formed by the union of amidogen with an acid
ami-d
amie ami-e (Fem.) AMI, friend.
amin ami-n A compound derived from ammonia. Also AMINE, AMMINE.
amis a-mis (Spenser) = AMICE, a strip of linen worn by priests
ami-s
amus a-mus (Pl.) AMU, a unit of mass.
amu-s
anal ana-l Relating to the anus.
anan a-nan = ANON in sense of presently
ana-n
anas a-nas (Pl.) ANA. a collection of someone's table-talk.
ana-s
anes ane-s (Pl.) ANE, Scots for one.
anon a-non At once; immediately.
anow a-now (Milt.) ENOW, enough.
anus a-nus End of the digestive tract, or gut.
apay a-pay (Arch.) to satisfy; to repay. Also APPAY.
aped a-ped
ape-d
aper a-per One that apes.
ape-r
apes a-pes
ape-s
apod a-pod An animal without feet or ventral fins.
area are-a
ared a-red (Spenser) pt. of AREDE, to counsel. Also AREDD.
are-d
ares a-res (Pl.) ARE, 100 sq. metres.
are-s
aret a-ret (Spenser) to entrust, commit. Also ARRET, ARETT.
are-t
ates a-tes (Pl.) ATE, reckless ambition.
ate-s
atom a-tom
atop a-top On top of.
awed a-wed
awe-d
awee a-wee Awhile.
awe-e
awes awe-s
axis a-xis
ayah a-yah An Indian nursemaid.
ayes a-yes
aye-s
ayus a-yus (Pl.) AYU, a small edible Japanese fruit.
ayu-s
baal b-aal A false god.
baa-l
baas b-aas (Afrikaans) boss.
baa-s
baba b-aba A kind of cake.
baby b-aby
bade bad-e
bags bag-s
baht bah-t The basic monetary unit of Thailand, equal to 100 SATANGS.
bait b-ait
bald bal-d (Verb) to become bald.
balk bal-k A ridge of land left unplowed between furrows.
balm bal-m (Verb) to embalm; to anoint with fragrant oil.
balu bal-u A lullaby. As int., used to lull a child to sleep. Also BALOO.
bams bam-s (Pl.) BAM, a hoax or cheat.
banc ban-c = BANK, as at a casino.
bane b-ane (Noun) an evil, a poison; (verb) to harm, poison.
ban-e
bang ban-g
bank ban-k
bans ban-s
bare b-are
bar-e
barn bar-n (Verb) to store in a barn.
barp bar-p (Scots) a mound or cairn.
base bas-e
bash b-ash
bas-h
bast bas-t The inner fibrous bark of various plants; esp. of the lime tree
bate b-ate
bat-e
bath bat-h
bats bat-s
baye b-aye (Spenser) to bathe.
bay-e
bayt bay-t (Spenser) to bate, abate.
bean b-ean
bear b-ear
beat b-eat
bede bed-e (Obs.) = BEAD, a prayer.
beds bed-s
bedu bed-u = BEDOUINS, tent-dwelling nomadic Arabs.
beef bee-f
been b-een
bee-n
beep bee-p
beer bee-r
bees bee-s
beet bee-t (Verb) to improve or mend, esp. a fire.
bene b-ene (Arch.) a prayer, a boon.
ben-e
beni ben-i Sesame. Also BENNI, BENNE.
benj ben-j Cannabis, Indian hemp, used as a weak narcotic. Also BHANG.
bent ben-t A kind of grass.
bere b-ere Barley; the six-rowed barley or the four-rowed barley.
best b-est
beta b-eta A Greek letter.
bet-a
bete bet-e 1. to mend; to repair; 2. a brute, a stupid person.
bets bet-s
bide b-ide
bid-e
bind bin-d
bine bin-e The flexible shoot of climbing plant, especially hop.
bing bin-g A heap or pile; as, a bing of wood.
bint bin-t (Sl.) a girl.
biog bio-g (Abbrev. of) biography.
bios b-ios (Pl.) BIO, biography.
bio-s
bise bis-e A cold dry northerly wind, mainly prevalent in spring.
bish b-ish 1. A mistake, a blunder; 2. (Aus. sl) to throw.
bis-h
bisk bis-k A soup or broth made by boiling several sorts of flesh toget
bite bit-e
bito bit-o A tree of dry tropical Africa and Asia.
bitt bit-t A post or pair of posts on the deck of a ship.
blab b-lab To utter or tell unnecessarily, or in a thoughtless manner;
blad b-lad (Scots) = BLAUD, a fragment, a broken off piece.
blag b-lag To rob, steal.
blah b-lah To talk stupidly or insipidly.
blam b-lam The sound of a gunshot.
blat b-lat 1. (Sl.) a newspaper. Also BLATT; 2. to cry like a sheep.
blaw b-law (Scots) to blow.
blay b-lay A small fish, aka BLEAK. Also BLEY.
blin b-lin (Arch.) to cease from, stop.
blob b-lob
blow b-low
boba b-oba Another name for YAWS, a contagious skin disease.
bob-a
bode b-ode
bod-e
body bod-y
bona bon-a (Lat.) goods.
bond bon-d
bone b-one
bon-e
bong bon-g To make a deep ringing sound.
bonk bon-k
bony bon-y
boob boo-b (Verb) to make a mistake.
booh b-ooh To boo.
boo-h
book boo-k
bool boo-l (Scots) a bowl.
boom b-oom
boo-m
boon b-oon
boo-n
boor b-oor A rude person.
boo-r
boos b-oos
boo-s
bore b-ore Tidal flow of water up estuaries.
bor-e
born bor-n
bosh bos-h Meaningless talk.
bosk bos-k A bush; a thicket. Also BOSQUE, BOSQUET.
boss bos-s
bout b-out
bowr bow-r (Spenser) a muscle.
bows bow-s
boyg boy-g A problem difficult to get to grips with.
boyo boy-o (Welsh slang) a boy, a young man.
bred b-red
bree b-ree (Scots) the eyebrow; the liquor in which anything has been brewed.
bren b-ren (Arch.) to burn.
bute b-ute (Sl.) a capsule of phenybutazone.
but-e
byes b-yes
bye-s
caba c-aba A woman's work-basket. Also CABAS.
cab-a
caid c-aid A Muslim leader. Also KAID.
cain c-ain In old Scots law, rent paid in kind. Also KAIN.
cane c-ane
can-e
cany c-any Like cane, abounding in cane.
can-y
care c-are
car-e
cash c-ash
cate c-ate (Obs.) food.
cat-e
ceas c-eas (Shakesp.) interjection meaning cease; also read as SESSA.
cere c-ere Wax; a wax-like protuberance at base of upper part of birds.
chad c-had Bits of paper punched out of paper tape or cards.
cha-d
chai cha-i Fem. of CHAL, Romany word for a fellow, a person.
chal cha-l A fellow, person.
cham c-ham (Obs.) = KHAN. Also dialect form of I am.
cha-m
char cha-r
chas c-has (Pl.) CHA.
cha-s
chat c-hat
cha-t
chaw c-haw To grind with the teeth; to masticate, as food in eating.
cha-w
chay c-hay An Indian plant (Oldenlandia) of the madder family.
cha-y
chef che-f (Verb) to work as a chef.
cher c-her (Fr.) dear.
che-r
chez che-z (Fr.) at the home of.
chia chi-a A Mexican herb.
chid c-hid (Pt.) CHIDE.
chi-d
chik chi-k (India) a slatted blind.
chin c-hin
chi-n
chis c-his (Pl.) CHI, a Greek letter.
chi-s
chit c-hit (Dial.) a shoot; (verb) to sprout.
chi-t
chiv chi-v (Slang) a knife; (verb) to cut with a knife.
chiz chi-z (Sl.) a cheat, a swizz. Also CHIZZ.
chon c-hon A Korean monetary unit. Pl. CHON. Also JUN.
chop c-hop
chow c-how (Verb) to eat.
cide c-ide (Obs.) perhaps to decide.
cid-e
cion c-ion A shoot or twig. Also SCION.
clad c-lad To cover one material with another.
clag c-lag To stick.
clam c-lam
clat c-lat (Scots) something scraped together, a lump; (verb) to scratch.
claw c-law
clay c-lay (Verb) to purify (e.g. sugar) with clay.
clod c-lod A lump or mass, especially of earth, turf, or clay.
clop c-lop
clow c-low (Scots) = CLOVE. A clow-flower is a gillyflower.
cloy c-loy
coda c-oda An end-piece.
cod-a
code c-ode
cod-e
coho c-oho A Pacific salmon. Also COHOE.
cone c-one (Verb) to bear cones.
con-e
coof c-oof (Scots) a stupid fellow: dolt, lout.
coo-f
coom c-oom Soot; coal dust; refuse matter.
coo-m
coon c-oon A raccoon.
coo-n
coop c-oop
coo-p
coos c-oos
coo-s
cope c-ope
cop-e
core c-ore
cor-e
coup c-oup (Verb) Scots, to overturn.
cour c-our (Obs.) to cover.
cred c-red (Abbrev. of) credibility.
cree c-ree Of grain, to soften by boiling or soaking.
cure c-ure
cur-e
cute c-ute
cut-e
dada dad-a An artistic movement.
dado d-ado A skirting-board; (verb) to fit with a dado.
dad-o
daes dae-s (3rd.) DAE, to do.
dago d-ago
dag-o
dags dag-s (Pl.) DAG, to cut off a sheep's dags.
dahl dah-l An Indian name for a lentil. Also DAL, DHOLL, DHAL.
dais d-ais
dali dal-i A tropical American tree related to nutmeg.
dame dam-e
damn dam-n
dams dam-s
dang dan-g To damn.
dank dan-k (Noun) in Milton, a wet place.
dans dan-s (Pl.) DAN.
dare d-are
dash d-ash
das-h
date d-ate
dawd daw-d (Scots) to knock, thump. Also DAUD, DOD.
dawk daw-k In India, the mail or post; a letter. Also DAK.
daws daw-s (Pl.) DAW, a kind of bird.
dawt daw-t (Scots) to pet. Also DAUT.
dean d-ean (Verb) to serve as a dean.
dear d-ear (Verb) to injure.
deed dee-d 1. (verb) to transfer (property); 2. (Scots) dead.
deem dee-m
deen d-een (Spenser) din.
dee-n
deep dee-p
deer dee-r
dees dee-s (Pl.) DEE, the letter D; anything of that shape.
deet dee-t An insect repellant.
deev dee-v In Iranian (esp. Zoroastrian) mythology: a demonic power.
defi def-i A challenge.
defy def-y
dele del-e Erase; remove; -- a direction to cancel something.
deli del-i (Abbrev. of) DELICATESSEN.
deme d-eme A territorial subdivision of Attica.
dene d-ene A sandy tract or dune by the seashore.
den-e
dent den-t
deny den-y
dere d-ere (Spenser) grievous.
dexy dex-y A tablet of DEX, a sulfate used as a stimulant.
dhow d-how A lateen-rigged oriental craft.
dido did-o An antic, caper. Pl. DIDOS, DIDOES.
didy did-y A diaper.
dine din-e
ding din-g To dash; to throw violently.
dino din-o (Abbrev. of) a dinosaur.
dint din-t
disa dis-a An African orchid, with dark green leaves.
disc dis-c 1. a flat round plate; 2. (verb) to work with a disc harrow
dish d-ish
dis-h
disk dis-k (Verb) to break up land with a disc harrow.
diss dis-s 1. an Algerian grass; 2. (verb) to disrespect. Also DIS.
dita d-ita A tree of India and the Philippines.
dit-a
dite dit-e 1. something composed and written down; a composition, a let
ditt dit-t = DIT, in the sense of a poem, the words of a song.
ditz dit-z A silly person.
doby dob-y An adobe, a sun-dried brick. Also DOBIE.
dodo dod-o
doek doe-k A square cloth for tying round the head, worn by African women.
doen doe-n (Obs.) pt. DO.
doer doe-r
does d-oes
doe-s
dome dom-e (Verb) to cover with a dome.
domy dom-y Dome-like; having domes.
dona don-a Spanish feminine of Don, the title; also, a sweetheart.
done d-one
don-e
dong don-g A deep sound like that of a large bell; (verb) to make this sound.
doob doo-b A perennial, creeping grass (Cynodon dactylon).
dook doo-k (Scots) to duck, bathe.
dool doo-l A boundary or landmark in the form of a post or stone.
doom d-oom
doo-m
door d-oor
doo-r
doos d-oos (Pl.) DOO, dove, pigeon.
doo-s
dopa dop-a A drug to treat Parkinson's disease.
dope d-ope
dop-e
dopy dop-y Foolish. Also DOPEY.
dore d-ore (Fr.) gilded (the e has an accent).
dor-e
dork dor-k An idiot, an object of contempt; the penis.
dorm dor-m (Abbrev. of) dormitory.
dorp dor-p A S. African village or small town.
dorr dor-r = DOR, a kind of dung-beetle; (verb) to mock, scoff.
dory dor-y A European fish; a type of boat.
dosh dos-h (Sl.) money.
doss dos-s
dost dos-t (Arch.) 2nd. pers. sing. DO.
doup d-oup (Scots) the bottom of anything.
dour d-our
dout d-out (Scots) to put out, extinguish.
dowd dow-d A woman who wears dull-looking clothes.
dowf dow-f (Scots) dull, heavy, spiritless.
dowp dow-p (Scots) the bottom of anything. Also DOUP.
dows dow-s (Pl.) DOW, an Arab sailing vessel.
dree d-ree (Scots) to suffer, endure.
dsos d-sos (Pl.) DSO, = ZO, a yak.
dso-s
dure d-ure To endure, last.
dyes d-yes
dye-s
dzos d-zos (Pl.) DZO, a yak.
dzo-s
eans ean-s (3rd.) EAN, to bring forth young.
earl ear-l A rank above viscount, below marquis.
earn ear-n
ease eas-e
east eas-t (Verb, archaic) to move or turn east.
easy eas-y (Noun) a communication code word for the letter E.
eath eat-h (Spenser) easy. Also EATHE, ETHE.
eats eat-s
ebon e-bon Ebony; (adj.) consisting of ebony.
eche e-che (Shakesp.) to eke out. Also ECH, EECH, ICH.
ech-e
edit e-dit
eely eel-y Like an eel.
egis e-gis Protection, defense; patronage, sponsorship. Also AEGIS.
egos e-gos
ego-s
eide e-ide Acronym for Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics.
emes e-mes (Pl.) EME, obs. for uncle.
eme-s
emus e-mus (Pl.) EMU.
emu-s
enes ene-s (Pl.) ENE, even.
enow e-now (Obs.) enough.
epee e-pee A kind of sword used in fencing.
epos e-pos An epic poem.
ered e-red (Pt.) ERE, to plough.
ere-d
eres e-res (3rd.) ERE, to plough.
ere-s
ests est-s (Pl.) EST, a programme designed to develop human potential.
etas e-tas (Pl.) ETA, a letter in the Greek alphabet.
eta-s
etat e-tat The staff of an army, including all officers.
eta-t
eten e-ten A giant. Also ETTIN.
eyen e-yen (Obs.) eyes. Also EYNE.
eye-n
eyes e-yes
eye-s
fade fad-e
fado f-ado A type of Portugese folk-song or dance.
fad-o
fady fad-y Wearing away, fading.
fags fag-s
fain f-ain Happy; inclined; pleased.
fane f-ane A temple.
fan-e
fang fan-g (Shakesp.) to seize in the teeth.
fank fan-k (Scots) a coil, tangle; an enclosure for sheep.
fano fan-o A liturgical cape worn by the Pope.
fans fan-s
fare f-are
far-e
farl far-l The quarter of a round cake of flour or oatmeal. Also FARLE,
faro far-o A card game.
fash f-ash (Scots) to vex, to annoy, to trouble.
fas-h
fast fas-t
fate f-ate
fat-e
fats fat-s
faws faw-s (Pl.) FAW, a gypsy.
fear f-ear
feat f-eat (Verb) to fashion, make neat; (adj.) neat, deft.
feel f-eel
fee-l
feme f-eme A legal term for a woman, as in feme covert, married woman,
fem-e
fere f-ere 1. a companion or mate. Also FEARE, FEER, FIERE, PHEERE.
fer-e
fest f-est A festival, a special occasion.
feta f-eta A kind of cheese. Also FETTA.
fet-a
fish f-ish
flab f-lab
flag f-lag
flam f-lam (Arch.) a whim, an idle fancy; (verb) to deceive.
flat f-lat (Verb) to flatten.
flaw f-law (Verb) to crack or break.
flax f-lax
flay f-lay
flit f-lit
flop f-lop
flor f-lor (Abbrev. of) FLORIN or FLORUIT.
flow f-low
foes f-oes
foe-s
fone f-one (Spenser) pl. of FOE. Also FOEN.
fon-e
fore f-ore At an earlier time or period.
for-e
four f-our
fou-r
free f-ree
fret f-ret
gaby g-aby (Dial.) a simpleton.
gab-y
gaid g-aid A miner's wedge. Also GADE.
gain g-ain (Adj.) near, straight; convenient.
gait g-ait (Verb) to teach (a horse) its gaits.
gala g-ala
gal-a
gama g-ama Pasture grass.
gam-a
gane g-ane To yawn; to gape.
gan-e
gare g-are (Scots) greedy, miserly.
gar-e
gash g-ash
gas-h
gate g-ate
gat-e
gean g-ean The wild cherry.
gear g-ear
geat g-eat The channel or spout through which molten metal runs.
gene g-ene
gen-e
gere g-ere (Spenser) gear.
gest g-est A tale of adventures, esp: a romance in verse.
geta g-eta A Japanese wooden sandal with a thong between the toes.
get-a
ghat g-hat (In India) a mountain pass; a landing stage.
ghis g-his (Pl.) GHI, clarified butter.
ghi-s
gift gif-t
ging gin-g (Obs.) a gang or company.
gios g-ios (Pl.) GIO, an inlet.
gio-s
gist gis-t
gite git-e In France, a farmhouse offering holiday accommodation.
glad g-lad (Verb) to make glad.
glam g-lam A greying, leisured, affluent married person.
glid g-lid (Scots) slippery.
glit g-lit Sticky, slimy or greasy material.
glob g-lob A roundish drop or dollop of a semi-liquid substance.
glop g-lop 1. (US sl.) a soft, gooey or sloppy semi-liquid substance.
glow g-low
gnat g-nat
gnaw g-naw
gnus g-nus
gnu-s
gobo g-obo A device used to protect a camera lens from light. Pl. GOBOS
gob-o
goby gob-y A small fish.
goel goe-l The avenger of blood among the Hebrews, the next of kin whos
goer goe-r
goes g-oes
goe-s
goey goe-y Enterprising, go-ahead.
gone g-one
gon-e
gong gon-g To summon by sounding a gong.
gonk gon-k A stuffed toy.
good goo-d
goof g-oof (Verb) to make a blunder.