hawk
1- any of numerous birds of prey of the family Accipitridae, having a short, hooked beak, broad wings, and curved talons, often seen circling or swooping at low altitudes.
- any of several similar, unrelated birds, as the nighthawk.
- Informal. a person who preys on others, as a sharper.
- Also called war hawk. Informal. a person, especially one in public office, who advocates war or a belligerent national attitude.Compare dove1(def 5).
- any person who pursues an aggressive policy in business, government, etc.: The corporation is now run by a bunch of young hawks.
- to fly, or hunt on the wing, like a hawk.
- to hunt with hawks.
Origin of hawk
1hawk
2- to peddle or offer for sale by calling aloud in public.
- to advertise or offer for sale: to hawk soap on television.
- to spread (rumors, news, etc.).
- to carry wares about for sale; peddle.
Origin of hawk
2hawk
3- to make an effort to raise phlegm from the throat; clear the throat noisily.
- to raise by noisily clearing the throat: to hawk phlegm up.
- a noisy effort to clear the throat.
Origin of hawk
3hawk
4- a small, square board with a handle underneath it, used by plasterers and masons to hold plaster or mortar being applied.
Origin of hawk
4Hawk
- a medium-range, mobile U.S. surface-to-air missile system.
Origin of Hawk
Examples from the Web for hawk
Contemporary Examples of hawk
The NSPG meeting defined the official line on the HAWK deal, but it did not address the funding diversion.
How the Reagan White House Bungled Its Response to Iran-Contra RevelationsMalcolm Byrne
November 3, 2014
Monk said to Hawk, 'You're the great Coleman Hawkins, right?
Christie was clearly what non-Southern high-end Republicans wanted--a hawk who kept his eye on the bond market.
But the Hawk system, the official noted, is much more difficult to operate than the Russian Buk system.
At the same time, maybe she should hawk it up a little, especially if Rand Paul is the nominee.
Historical Examples of hawk
Then if they do not sell I will hawk them from door to door.
Ballads of a BohemianRobert W. Service
Come, man, you must be as hungry as a hawk—a slice of the beef?
Night and Morning, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
A hawk, driving down out of the blue, had barely missed him.
White FangJack London
It was the same when he challenged the hawk down out of the sky.
White FangJack London
Later, when he had grown more formidable, he wanted to eat the hawk.
White FangJack London
hawk
1- any of various diurnal birds of prey of the family Accipitridae, such as the goshawk and Cooper's hawk, typically having short rounded wings and a long tailRelated adjective: accipitrine
- US and Canadian any of various other falconiform birds, including the falcons but not the eagles or vultures
- a person who advocates or supports war or warlike policiesCompare dove 1 (def. 2)
- a ruthless or rapacious person
- know a hawk from a handsaw to be able to judge things; be discerning
- (intr) to hunt with falcons, hawks, etc
- (intr) (of falcons or hawks) to fly in quest of prey
- to pursue or attack on the wing, as a hawk
Word Origin for hawk
hawk
2- to offer (goods) for sale, as in the street
- (tr often foll by about) to spread (news, gossip, etc)
Word Origin for hawk
hawk
3- (intr) to clear the throat noisily
- (tr) to force (phlegm) up from the throat
- British a slang word for spit 1
- a noisy clearing of the throat
Word Origin for hawk
hawk
4- a small square board with a handle underneath, used for carrying wet plaster or mortarAlso called: mortar board
Word Origin for hawk
Word Origin and History for hawk
c.1300, hauk, earlier havek (c.1200), from Old English hafoc (W. Saxon), heafuc (Mercian), heafoc, from Proto-Germanic *habukaz (cf. Old Norse haukr, Old Saxon habuc, Middle Dutch havik, Old High German habuh, German Habicht "hawk"), from a root meaning "to seize," from PIE *kap- "to grasp" (cf. Russian kobec "a kind of falcon;" see capable). Transferred sense of "militarist" attested from 1962.
"to sell in the open, peddle," late 15c., back-formation from hawker "itinerant vendor" (c.1400), from Middle Low German höken "to peddle, carry on the back, squat," from Proto-Germanic *huk-. Related: Hawked; hawking. Despite the etymological connection with stooping under a burden on one's back, a hawker is technically distinguished from a peddler by use of a horse and cart or a van.
"to hunt with a hawk," mid-14c., from hawk (n.).
"to clear one's throat," 1580s, imitative.
Idioms and Phrases with hawk
hawk
see watch like a hawk.