hawk

[ hawk ]

/ hɔk /

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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.

Economics. an official or advisor who advocates relatively high interest rates or other monetary policies aimed at keeping inflation low.

verb (used without object)

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

to hunt with hawks.

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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”

OTHER WORDS FROM hawk

hawk·like, adjective

Other definitions 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

Other definitions 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

Other definitions 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)

Other definitions 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. 2022

How to use hawk in a sentence

Founded in 2010, Wish now helps more then 500,000 online sellers hawk goods to 100 million monthly active shoppers.
Pros and cons of investing in 5 upcoming tech IPOs from Airbnb to Roblox|Aaron Pressman|November 25, 2020|Fortune
Helicopters and Washingtonians generally get along as well as hawks and bunny rabbits.
In D.C., a resident tracks the flying machines hovering above on the city’s ‘helicopter highway’|Justin Wm. Moyer|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Unlike the PigeonBot, this robot-hawk doesn’t use actual feathers from a real bird—Ajanic’s team devised an artificial solution.
This robotic hawk can shape-shift as it flies|Rob Verger|October 28, 2020|Popular-Science
In some ways, the robo-hawk is a lot like a real northern goshawk.
This robotic hawk can shape-shift as it flies|Rob Verger|October 28, 2020|Popular-Science

A version of this article appears in the November 2020 issue of Fortune with the headline, “A powerful tool for trade hawks.”
How the secretive CFIUS became a powerful weapon in the trade wars|Jeff|October 19, 2020|Fortune
Both mobilized a grassroots organization unprecedented in their countries, and both hawked progressive agendas.
Scotland’s ‘Yes’ Campaign and the Myth of Scottish Equality|Noah Caldwell|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Later in that same show, guest Hillary Clinton hawked her new book together with her hawkish views on the Middle East.
How Jon Stewart Made It Okay to Care About Palestinian Suffering|Dean Obeidallah|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Gone are the days when a few rows of vendors hawked books to hardcore fans.
Too Many Spider-Men, Too Little Time: Get Ready for Comic-Con|Annaliza Savage|July 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Someone in Serbia hawked 1,500 tickets for £80,000 in cash—about $125,000.
Sex, Bribes & Rhythmic Gymnastics: The IOC’s Biggest Scandals|Sujay Kumar|September 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But he has more stamina than any host who has ever hawked Turtle Wax.
Is Alex Trebek in Jeopardy?|Daniel Stone|February 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST
It was called rock oil and was hawked about the streets as a sure cure for rheumatism.
Birds and All Nature, Vol. VI, No. 3, October 1899|Various
Papal indulgences and relics were hawked about chiefly by friars, though these practices were discountenanced by the bishops.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 4|Various
Their letters were published in a pamphlet of which Pollard said scornfully that it was hawked about in every city of the South.
The Day of the Confederacy|Nathaniel W. Stephenson
A broadside on the event was printed and hawked about the country.
The History of Burke and Hare|George Mac Gregor
Panaceas are hawked among us, each with a magic to cure our ills.
Hints to Pilgrims|Charles Stephen Brooks

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with hawk

hawk

see watch like a hawk.

hawk

Origin of hawk

OTHER WORDS FROM hawk

Other definitions for hawk (2 of 5)

Origin of hawk

Other definitions for hawk (3 of 5)

Origin of hawk

Other definitions for hawk (4 of 5)

Origin of hawk

Other definitions for hawk (5 of 5)

Origin of Hawk

Words related to hawk

How to use hawk in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hawk (1 of 4)

Derived forms of hawk

Word Origin for hawk

British Dictionary definitions for hawk (2 of 4)

Word Origin for hawk

British Dictionary definitions for hawk (3 of 4)

Word Origin for hawk

British Dictionary definitions for hawk (4 of 4)

Word Origin for hawk

Other Idioms and Phrases with hawk