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.
verb (used without object)
to fly, or hunt on the wing, like a hawk.
to hunt with hawks.
Origin of hawk
1
before 900;Middle Englishhauk(e), Old Englishhafoc; cognate with Old Frisianhavek,Old SaxonhabucOld High Germanhabuh,Old Norsehaukr hawk, perhaps Polishkobuz kind of falcon
Related formshawk·like, adjective
hawk
2
[hawk]
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
2
First recorded in 1470–80; back formation from hawker2
hawk
3
[hawk]
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.
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 Canadianany 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 handsawto 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 Formshawklike, 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
hawk
2
verb
to offer (goods) for sale, as in the street
(tr often foll by about) to spread (news, gossip, etc)
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.
hawk
v.1
"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.
