hawk

[ hawk ]

/ hɔk /

noun

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 con artist.

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.

verb (used without object)

to fly, or hunt on the wing, like a hawk.

to hunt with hawks.

QUIZZES

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We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?

Question 1 of 11

Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?

owl

crow

piranha

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Origin of hawk

First recorded before 900; Middle English hauk(e), Old English hafoc; cognate with Old Frisian havek, Old Saxon habuc, Old High German habuh, Old Norse haukr “hawk” perhaps

OTHER WORDS FROM hawk

hawklike, adjective

Words nearby hawk

Hawes Water, hawfinch, hawg, haw-haw, Hawick, hawk, hawkbill, hawkbit, Hawke, Hawke Bay, hawker

Definition for hawk (2 of 5)

hawk²

[ hawk ]

/ hɔk /

verb (used with object)

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.).

verb (used without object)

to carry wares about for sale; peddle.

Origin of hawk

First recorded in 1470–80; back formation from hawker²

Definition for hawk (3 of 5)

hawk³

[ hawk ]

/ hɔk /

verb (used without object)

to make an effort to raise phlegm from the throat; clear the throat noisily.

verb (used with object)

to raise by noisily clearing the throat: to hawk phlegm up.

noun

a noisy effort to clear the throat.

Origin of hawk

First recorded in 1575–85; imitative

Definition for hawk (4 of 5)

hawk⁴

[ hawk ]

/ hɔk /

noun

a small, square board with a handle underneath it, used by plasterers and masons to hold plaster or mortar being applied.

Origin of hawk

⁴

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; perhaps variant of hache “battle-ax” (see hatchet)

Definition for hawk (5 of 5)

Hawk

[ hawk ]

/ hɔk /

noun Military.

a medium-range, mobile U.S. surface-to-air missile system.

Origin of Hawk

H(oming)A(ll the)W(ay)K(iller)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for hawk

For a larger bird like a hawk or woodpecker that might try to sink a beak or talon into your skin, call in an expert right away.
How to help an injured bird|Purbita Saha|October 15, 2020|Popular Science
From selling scarves and hawking healthy cookies, Frankel attracted media notice that landed her on TV with Martha Stewart.
Bethenny Frankel Reveals Why She’s an ‘Animal’|Eugene Robinson|September 2, 2020|Ozy
Pieces sold for a hundred dollar or less were soon being hawked online for thousands.
Ikea promises ‘democratic’ design. Has its Virgil Abloh collaboration lived up?|claychandler|August 25, 2020|Fortune
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 Revelations|Malcolm Byrne|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Monk said to Hawk, 'You're the great Coleman Hawkins, right?
The Stacks: John Coltrane’s Mighty Musical Quest|Nat Hentoff|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Christie was clearly what non-Southern high-end Republicans wanted--a hawk who kept his eye on the bond market.
2016 Just May Be the GOP Base’s Year|Lloyd Green|August 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the Hawk system, the official noted, is much more difficult to operate than the Russian Buk system.
MH17 Was Awful, but It’s Probably Unique|Dave Majumdar|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the same time, maybe she should hawk it up a little, especially if Rand Paul is the nominee.
Kudos to Hillary for Playing the Hitler Card|Michael Tomasky|March 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The same God made the eagle, the vulture, the hawk, and their helpless prey.
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 4 (of 12)|Robert G. Ingersoll
But No. 2, a keen-looking person with the eye of a hawk, was not so easily satisfied.
Allan and the Holy Flower|H. Rider Haggard
Annie-Many-Ponies, turning her eyes disappointedly from the empty mesa, envied the hawk his swift-winged freedom.
The Heritage of the Sioux|B.M. Bower
I might have walked miles and not found a lark which afforded me so much sport, and the hawk such a lung-opener.
The Art and Practice of Hawking|Edward B. Michell
They have no more sympathy for them than a hound has for a hare, or a hawk for a hen, or a tiger for a calf.
New Tabernacle Sermons|Thomas De Witt Talmage

British Dictionary definitions for hawk (1 of 4)

hawk¹

/ (hɔːk) /

noun

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

verb

(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

Derived forms of hawk

hawklike, adjective

Word Origin for hawk

from Shakespeare (Hamlet II:2:375); handsaw is probably a corruption of dialect heronshaw heron Old English hafoc; related to Old Norse haukr, Old Frisian havek, Old High German habuh, Polish kobuz

British Dictionary definitions for hawk (2 of 4)

hawk²

/ (hɔːk) /

verb

to offer (goods) for sale, as in the street

(tr often foll by about) to spread (news, gossip, etc)

Word Origin for hawk

C16: back formation from hawker 1

British Dictionary definitions for hawk (3 of 4)

hawk³

/ (hɔːk) /

verb

(intr) to clear the throat noisily

(tr) to force (phlegm) up from the throat

British a slang word for spit 1

noun

a noisy clearing of the throat

Word Origin for hawk

C16: of imitative origin; see haw ²

British Dictionary definitions for hawk (4 of 4)

hawk⁴

/ (hɔːk) /

noun

a small square board with a handle underneath, used for carrying wet plaster or mortarAlso called: mortar board

Word Origin for hawk

of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with hawk

hawk

see watch like a hawk.

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hawk

noun

verb (used without object)

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Origin of hawk

OTHER WORDS FROM hawk

Words nearby hawk

Definition for hawk (2 of 5)

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of hawk

Definition for hawk (3 of 5)

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of hawk

Definition for hawk (4 of 5)

noun

Origin of hawk

Definition for hawk (5 of 5)

noun Military.

Origin of Hawk

Words related to hawk

Example sentences from the Web for hawk

British Dictionary definitions for hawk (1 of 4)

noun

verb

Derived forms of hawk

Word Origin for hawk

British Dictionary definitions for hawk (2 of 4)

verb

Word Origin for hawk

British Dictionary definitions for hawk (3 of 4)

verb

noun

Word Origin for hawk

British Dictionary definitions for hawk (4 of 4)

noun

Word Origin for hawk

Idioms and Phrases with hawk